UC-NRLF 


COMPLIMENTARY 


THE 

CHARLES  LARNED 
MEMORIAL 


OXFORD 

MASSACHUSETTS 
1906 


BfRPCBllY 

LIBRARY 

I       UNIVERSITY    Of 
CALIFORNIA 


LIBRARY  SCHOOL 


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SOUVENIR 


OF    THE 


CHARLES  EARNED  MEMORIAL 


AND    THE 


FREE   PUBLIC  LIBRARY 

^OXFORD,  MASSACHUSETTS 

1906 


BOSTON 

GEO.  H.  ELLIS  Co.,  PRINTERS,  272  CONGRESS  STREET 
1906 


GIFT 


U33ARY 
SCHOOL 


FOREWORD. 

The   prime  object  of  the  following  pages  is  to 
report  the  dedicatory  exercises  of  the 

CHARLES  LAKNED  MEMORIAL, 

but  its  character  as  a  memorial  and  as  a  working 
factor  in  the  individual  and  social  life  of  the  com- 
munity cannot  be  fully  appreciated  without  a  some- 
what detailed  account  of  its  history  and  structural 
features,  while  the  only  fitting  introduction  thereto 
is  a  brief  sketch  of  the 

FREE  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 

whose  needs  called  it  into  being  and  with  which  hence- 
forth it  is  to  be  identified.  This  sketch  has  been 
extracted  from  the  Town  Report  of  1890,  which 
with  all  other  material  has  been  selected  and 
arranged  for  this  brochure,  that,  as  far  as  limits 
would  permit,  it  might  at  least  approach  complete- 
ness and  symmetry. 


M893542 


BENEFACTORS 

OF  THE 

FREE  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


1868. 

HON.  IRA  M.  BARTON,  FOUNDER, 
$1000. 

1876. 
HON.  GEORGE  L.  DAVIS, 

$500. 

1892. 

GEN.  NELSON  H.  DAVIS, 
$250. 

1895. 

MRS.  MARY  S.  T.  WALLACE, 
$1993.25. 

1898. 
JEREMIAH  LEARNED,  ESQ., 

Residuary  Portion  of  Estate. 


1902. 
ORRIN  F.  JOSLIN,  ESQ., 

$1000. 
TOWN  OF  OXFORD, 

$4500. 
For  Purchase  of  Present  Site. 


1904. 

Miss  MATTIE  E.  SAWTELLE, 

$700. 

HON.  RICHARD  OLNEY, 

$1000. 
CHARLES  EARNED,  ESQ., 

The  "Charles  Lamed  Memorial." 


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EXTRACT  FROM  THE  REPORT 

ON  THE 

FREE   PUBLIC   LIBRARY. 

1890. 

In  the  belief  that  everything  contributing  to  the 
formation  of  our  own  Free  Public  Library  would  be 
of  interest,  a  brief  historical  sketch  of  this  and 
kindred  enterprises  preceding  it  has  been  compiled 
from  material  kindly  furnished  by  Mr.  George  F. 
Daniels. 

PASTOR'S  LIBRARY. 

The  first  collection  of  books  in  Oxford,  con- 
stituting a  library  of  perhaps  not  over  ten  volumes, 
was  contributed,  some  as  early  as  1719,  by  Paul 
Dudley,  Rev.  Benjamin  Wadsworth,  and  other 
gentlemen  of  Boston  and  vicinity,  well-wishers  of 
the  town,  for  the  use  of  the  minister.  Several  of 
these  volumes  were  preserved  as  late  as  1840,  in 
the  receptacle  of  the  "  Social  Library,"  which  was 
formed  later.  Among  them  were  specimens  of 
costly  book-making,  ponderous  volumes,  books  of 


sermons,  commentaries,  and  prolix  treatises  on  re- 
ligious subjects.  Some  volumes  are  still  in  exist- 
ence, two  of  which  contain  interesting  inscriptions. 
The  first,  being  a  Scripture  Commentary  printed  in 
London  in  1624,  was  in  1701  the  property  of  Mr. 
Wadsworth,  minister  of  the  First  Church  in  Boston, 
once  President  of  Harvard  College.  On  the  margin 
of  the  first  leaf  is  written  "For  Oxford  Library," 
opposite,  on  the  blank  page,  "The  gift  of  the 
Rev'd  Mr.  Benjamin  Wadsworth — for  the  use  of 
the  Church  or  Parish  Library  of  Oxford  in  the 
County  of  Suffolk,  1719."  The  other  is  entitled 
"  Hexapla,"  or  Commentary  on  Romans.  On  the 
back  of  this  title-page  is  written  "  Roxbury,  3d 
July,  1736.  For  the  use  of  the  Parish  Library  in 
Oxford,  New  England,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cambel  being 
the  present  minister.  Given  by  Paul  Dudley." 
There  was  also  a  large  folio  in  Latin,  being  "  An 
Exposition  of  the  Psalms,  given  by  Rev.  Dr.  Col- 
man,"  a  volume  of  Sermons  by  Samuel  Hieron, 
given  by  Samuel  Taylor  of  Boston,  and  one 
written  by  William  Morice,  Esq.,  given  by  Paul 
Dudley.* 

*A  receipt  of  Deacon  Samuel  Harris,  15  Nov.  1784,  indicates  that 
five  volumes  at  least  had  been  in  the  custody  of  Rev.  Joseph  Bowman, 
and  were  at  that  date  delivered  up  to  the  church;  described  as  "one 
folio  in  Latin,  an  Exposition  of  the  Psalms,  and  four  other  small  folios 
in  English,  being  Hieron's  Sermons,  one  written  by  Samuel  Morice,  Esq., 
one  a  Sixfold  Commentary  on  Romans,  and  the  fourth  a  Commentary  on 
Proverbs  and  Psalms." 

(These  volumes  were  finally  given  to  the  Free  Public  Library  by  the 
First  Congregational  Church.  See  Town  Reports  for  1890-91.) 


SOCIAL  LIBRARY 

The  second,  called  the  "Social  Library/'  was 
established  about  the  time  of  the  Revolutionary 
War.  It  was  founded  through  the  influence  of 
Josiah  Wolcott,  Dr.  Stephen  Barton,  Jonathan  Davis, 
and  others,  and  was  an  important  institution  of  the 
village  during  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century. 
Its  early  records  are  lost.  It  was  at  first  a  stock 
company,  and  the  proceeds  of  the  sales  of  shares 
were  expended  in  purchasing  books.  Donations  of 
books  were  also  made  by  individuals.  Its  deposi- 
tory was,  for  many  years,  at  the  Butler  tavern. 
Later  it  was  removed  to  the  dwelling— house  of 
Peter  Butler,  in  whose  care  it  remained  until  his 
decease  in  1857.  A  catalogue  and  list  of  members, 
dated  1  March,  1818,  gives  113  volumes  and  30 
proprietors.  Total  cost  of  books,  $254.27.* 

*In  1839  Judge  Barton,  then  of  Worcester,  presented  to  the  library 
four  large  Supplementary  Volumes  of  the  British  Encyclopaedia  with  a 
volume  of  plates.  In  his  accompanying  note  addressed  to  Mr.  Peter 
Butler,  he  says,  "  In  tendering  it  to  your  Association,  I  shall  only  make  a 
small  but  grateful  return  for  the  pleasure  and  benefit  derived  in  the  days 
of  my  boyhood  from  their  useful  library-" 

(These  volumes,  together  with  Vol.  VIII.  of  Rollin's  Ancient  History, 
passed  into  the  hands  of  Mrs.  John  Pratt  of  Oxford,  who  gave  them 
to  the  Free  Public  Library.  See  Town  Reports  for  1890-91.) 

The  Catalogue  was  as  follows:  British  Album,  Brown's  Elements, 
Barclay's  Apology,  Chesterfield  Abridged,  Clark's  Travels,  3  vols., 
Campbell's  Narrative,  Dean's  Husbandry,  Dialogue  of  Devils,  Domes- 
tic Encyclopaedia,  5  vols.,  Domestic  Cookery.  Encyclopaedia,  18  vols., 
Franklin's  Works,  Female  Biography,  Goldsmith's  Works,  6  vols., 
Grandpre's  Voyage,  Holmes'  Sketches,  2  vols.,  The  Hive,  Herriot's 
Travels,  Heathen  Gods,  Indian  Wars,  Locke  on  the  Understanding,  2 
vols.,  Life  of  Washington,  5  vols.,  Paradise  Lost,  Memoir  of  Cumber- 
land, Modern  Europe,  Prideaux'  History  of  the  Bible,  4  vols.,  Parent's 
Friend,  Pope's  Works,  4  vols.,  Parke's  Travels,  Porteus'  Evidences  of 
Christian  Religion,  Relly's  Works,  2  vols.,  Rights  of  Women,  Rambler, 
4  vols.,  Rollin's  Ancient  History,  8  vols.,  Robertson's  America,  2  vols., 
Seneca's  Morals,  Self  Knowledge,  Shakespeare,  6  vols.,  Spectator,  8  vols., 
The  Task,  Thomson's  Seasons,  Telemachus,  2  vols.,  Thinks  I  to  Myself, 

9 


It  is  known  that  in  1841  some  shareholders  drew 
out  their  proportion  of  books  permanently,  but  not 
nearly  all  did  so ;  and  on  7  March,  1859,  the 
balance  of  the  collection  was  sold  at  auction  to  Mr. 
Daniel  Rich  for  $8.55,  and  the  books  were  scat- 
tered in  all  directions. 

SOCIETY  LIBRARY. 

In  January,  1792,  the  Congregational  Church 
voted  an  appropriation  of  £30  from  the  Hagburn 
fund  toward  a  new  library.  Mr.  Dudley  seems  to 
have  been  the  prime  mover  in  this  matter,  and  with 
Captain  Elisha  Davis,  Deacon  John  Dana,  and 
Captain  Ebenezer  Humphrey  was  deputed  to  buy 
books.  The  record  recites :  "  The  following  are 
the  conditions  on  which  the  church  agrees  to  lay 
out  money  ...  in  junction  with  other  gentlemen 
subscribers  in  the  town."  The  following,  outside 
the  church,  paid  each  15  shillings  and  were  mem- 
bers :  John  Ballard,  Jonas  Eddy,  Lemuel  Crane, 
Anthony  Sigourney,  Simeon  Kingsbury,  Ebenezer 
Shumway,  Jr.,  Jesse  Stone  of  Ward,  Allen  Han- 
cock, Amos  Shumway,  Jr.,  Joseph  Hurd,  Daniel 
Kingsbury,  Ambrose  Stone,  Jr.,  Sylvanus  Town. 

Sigourney  sold  in  1796  to  Elias  Pratt. 

Vicar  of  Wakefield,  Views  of  Religion,  Whitney's  History  of  Worcester 
County,  Mr.  Williams'  Letters,  Winchester's  Letters. 

The  names  of  the  proprietors  were  as  follows:  James  Butler,  Peter 
Butler,  Lemuel  Crane,  Jonathan  Davis,  Rufus  Davis,  Abijah  Davis, 
Nehemiah  Davis,  Stephen  Davis,  Jonathan  Davis,  Jr.,  William  T.  Fisk, 
Asa  Harris,  Samuel  Harris,  Jonas  Hartwell,  Bradford  Hudson,  Jeremiah 
Kingsbury,  Samuel  Kingsbury,  Stephen  Kingsbury,  Sylvanus  Learned, 
Abisha  Learned,  William  Lamson,  John  Mayo,  Richard  Moore,  Thomas 
Meriam,  Jotham  Meriam,  John  Pratt,  John  Putnam,  Amos  Rich,  Joseph 
Stone,  William  Sigourney,  Samuel  Ward. 

10 


Iii  February,  1792,  books  to  the  value  of  £27 
14s.  were  bought,  and  the  library  was  soon  opened. 
According  to  the  by-laws,  the  pastor,  Mr.  Dudley, 
was  librarian,  acting  efficiently  while  he  remained 
in  town.* 

The  library  opened  with  about  80  volumes. 
Later,  from  time  to  time,  additions  were  made  by 
gift  and  purchase,  so  that  the  aggregate  was  prob- 
ably nearly  or  quite  150  volumes.  It  is  no  slight 
compliment  to  the  intelligence,  character,  and  good 
taste  of  the  members  of  the  church  and  this  associ- 
ation that,  as  the  records  testify,  these  solid  vol- 
umes were,  for  many  years,  extensively  circulated 
and  read  throughout  the  town. 

A  prudential  committee  of  five  was  chosen  annu- 
ally to  manage  the  general  affairs  of  the  institution, 
and  for  the  first  twenty  years  the  following  consti- 
tuted this  committee :  Ebenezer  Learned,  Elisha 
Davis,  Samuel  Harris,  Samuel  Crane,  John  Ballard, 


*The  titles  of  works  first  purchased  were:  Gibbon's  Abridgment,  2 
vols.,  Robertson's  America,  2  vols.,  Guthrie's  Grammar,  Morse's  Gram- 
mar, Dodd's  Thoughts,  Fordyce's  Sermons,  Paley's  Philosophy,  Citi- 
zen of  the  World,  2  vols.,  Blackstone's  Commentaries,  4  vols.,  Web- 
ster's Essay,  Paradise  Lost,  Night  Thoughts,  Beattie's  Evidences, 
Beattie's  Moral  Science,  Stackhouse's  History  of  the  Bible,  6  vols.,  The 
Task,  Edwards  on  the  Will,  Jennyn's  View,  Mason's  Self  Knowledge, 
Watts'  Death  and  Heaven,  Ramsay's  History,  Doddridge's  Rise  and 
Progress,  Child's  Friend,  2  vols.,  Minot's  Insurrections,  Keats'  Pelew 
Islands,  Vicar  of  Wakefield,  Edwards  on  Sin,  Edwards  on  Redemption, 
Gardiner's  Life,  Blair's  Sermons,  2  vols.,  Boston's  Distinguished  Char- 
acters, Edwards  on  the  Affections,  Edwards  against  Chauncey,  The 
Spectator,  8  vols.,  Doddridge's  Sermons,  Christian  Theology,  Pilgrim's 
Progress,  Martin's  Grammar,  Newton  on  the  Prophecies,  2  vols.,  Seneca's 
Morals,  Hopkins  on  Holiness,  Edwards  on  Virtue,  American  Preacher, 
3  vols.,  Butler's  Analogy,  Price's  Dissertations,  Hervey's  Meditations, 
Bigelow's  Tour,  2  vols.,  Millot's  Elements,  5  vols.,  Locke's  Essay,  2  vols., 
Ferguson's  Astronomy. 

(The  remnant  of  this  library  was  given  to  the  Free  Public  Library  by 
the  First  Congregational  Church.  See  Town  Reports  for  1890-91.) 

11 


Ebenezer  Humphrey,  Joseph  Hurd,  Joshua  Turner, 
John  Dana. 

On  Mr.  Dudley's  removal  in  1799,  Jonathan 
Harris  was  chosen  librarian,  and  continued  until 
January,  1806,  when  Rev.  J.  Moulton  became  ex- 
officio  the  custodian.  He  only  retained  it  till  April, 
when  Col.  Sylvanus  Town  was  elected,  serving  until 
the  settlement  of  Mr.  Batcheller  in  1816,  who 
assumed  charge.  He  died  October,  1822 ;  and  Jan- 
uary, 1823,  Calvin  Perry  was  librarian,  at  which 
time  interest  had  much  declined.  In  January, 
1825,  the  church  voted  sixty  dollars  to  replenish 
the  collection,  and  Seth  Daniels  was  chosen  libra- 
rian. About  this  time  the  name  was  changed  from 
"  Society  Library "  to  "  Second  Social  Library." 
Among  the  important  additions  at  this  time  were 
Scott's  Bible,  6  volumes,  Rollin's  History  in  sev- 
eral volumes,  Silliman's  Travels,  3  volumes,  Mas- 
sillon's  Sermons,  Kimpton's  History  of  the  Bible. 

In  July,  1831,  the  books  were  removed  to  the 
custody  of  John  Wetherell,  where  they  continued 
two  or  three  years  at  least,  and  later,  a  proposition 
being  made  for  a  removal  to  the  new  meeting- 
house, as  being  more  central,  they  were  taken  to 
the  vestibule  of  the  gallery,  where  they  remained 
until  the  removal  of  the  house  to  its  present  loca- 
tion, when  they  were  put  in  the  basement,  where 
they  have  since  remained. 

After  the  removal  of  the  library  to  the  church, 
having  no  responsible  custodian,  it  was  but  little 
used ;  and,  being  in  a  public  place,  many  volumes 
disappeared,  so  that  at  present  only  about  twenty- 

12 


five  remain.     The    case  is  now  used  by  the  Sunday 
School.* 


LIBRARY  ASSOCIATION. 

This  was  an  organization  of  the  young  people, 
numbering  fifty  or  more,  formed  in  1856.  While 
its  ultimate  object  was  to  establish  a  library,  it 
first  took  the  form  of  a  reading  club,  meeting  at 
private  houses  once  in  two  weeks.  Conducted  by 
its  members,  there  was  a  literary  paper  called  the 
Evening  Star.  An  effort  was  made  to  raise  funds 
by  lectures,  but  was  relinquished.  In  December  a 
dramatic  entertainment  was  given  at  Sanford's  Hall, 
which  put  more  than  fifty  dollars  into  the  treasury, 
which  with  membership  fees,  fines,  etc.,  enabled  the 
Society  in  December,  1857,  to  buy  84  volumes  and 
a  case,  and  a  library  was  opened  under  the  name  of 
the  "Association  Library."  The  public  were  given 
the  privileges  of  it  by  the  payment  of  one  dollar 
per  annum  for  each  person.  The  number  of  books 
was  increased  by  donations  and  purchase  until  it 
reached  about  150  volumes,  and  the  selection  was 
good.  Issachar  Shumway  was  first  librarian. 
Changes  were  made  in  this  office  every  three 
months.  The  books  were  kept  for  a  time  at  the 
office,  formerly  Dr.  Nichols',  near  the  present  Dr. 
Cushman  house,  since  removed  to  Barton  Street. 

*Some  of  the  entries  on  the  records  of  fines  are  quite  suggestive  of 
the  olden  times,  as  when  Mr.  Lemuel  Crane  "greased  Blackstone"; 
Peter  Shumway  "  dropped  tallow  on  the  American  Preacher  " ;  Silas  Eddy 
"  dropped  tallow  on  and  burnt  Stackhouse  " ;  John  Dana,  "  a  drop  of  the 
candle  on  book  " ;  Amos  Shumway  "  blurred  (snuff)  Josephus."  Fines  for 
tallow  drops  were  common. 

13 


In  January,  I860,  the  interest  in  the  Society  had 
fallen  off.  In  February,  meetings  were  suspended 
and  a  committee  chosen  to  care  for  the  Library, 
funds,  etc.  In  November,  meetings  were,  by  vote, 
discontinued. 

The  Library  was  removed  to  the  store  of  B.  W. 
Childs,  one  of  the  committee,  and  remained  there 
for  several  years ;  and  later  the  books  were  trans- 
ferred to  the  Free  Public  Library. 

HIGH   SCHOOL. 

The  High  School  was  opened  in  1856.  A  year 
or  two  later  a  small  library  had  been  gathered  for 
its  use,  chiefly  by  private  contributions.  In  May, 
1859,  with  a  view  to  concentrate  forces,  the  High 
School  voted  to  incorporate  its  library  with  that  of 
the  Library  Association,  then  in  a  flourishing  con- 
dition. The  books  continued  in  the  care  of  the 
Association  for  two  years;  and  in  May,  1861,  at 
the  closing  up  of  its  affairs,  it  was  unanimously 
agreed  to  return  to  the  school  the  volumes  received, 
and  also  a  case  in  which  the  whole  had  been  kept, 
and  the  school  library  was  re-established  in  its  old 
position. 

Additions  to  it  have  been  made  from  time  to 
time  by  private  contributions,  purchases  from  the 
proceeds  of  entertainments,  etc.,  and  the  collection 
now  numbers  about  250  volumes,*  and  is  consid- 
ered a  valuable  adjunct  to  the  educational  appli- 
ances of  the  school. 

*  Since  increased  to  upwards  of  1500, 
14 


FARMERS'   LIBRARY. 

The  Oxford  Agricultural  Library  Association  was 
formed  July  25,  1859.  The  town  had  been  can- 
vassed by  an  agent  of  certain  book  publishers,  and 
sixty-eight  shares  at  three  dollars  each  were  sold. 
A  constitution  and  by-laws  were  adopted,  and  a 
library  of  148  volumes,  costing  $225,  was  estab- 
lished. George  Hodges,  Jr.,  was  first  president, 
and  William  E.  Pease  treasurer  and  librarian,  con- 
tinuing from  first  to  last.  The  books  were  kept  at 
the  post-office,  and  for  a  few  years  were  read ;  but, 
as  few  additions  were  made,  interest  declined,  and 
on  August  15,  1870,  the  collection  was  by  unani- 
mous vote  given  to  the  town  to  be  incorporated  in 
the  Public  Library. 


SCHOOL  LIBRARIES. 

As  early  as  1841,  school  libraries  were  being 
printed  and  established  in  Massachusetts  under  the 
sanction  of  the  Board  of  Education.  The  plan  con- 
templated one  hundred  volumes,  at  a  cost  of  $57. 
At  this  date  thirty-seven  volumes  had  been  issued, 
and  such  a  library  was  projected  in  District  No.  7, 
North  Gore,  when  $23.55  was  raised  by  subscrip- 
tion and  paid  March  17,  1842.  By-laws  were 
adopted,  officers  chosen,  and  the  library  opened. 
In  1843  it  became  the  property  of  the  district. 
George  W.  Hartwell  was  chosen  librarian,  and  the 
books  were  kept  at  his  house. 


15 


FREE  PUBLIC  LIBRARY. 

By  such  enterprises,  modest  in  their  aims  and 
pretensions,  but  suited  to  the  wants  of  the  times 
and  communities  in  which  they  found  birth,  the 
way  and  no  inconsiderable  material  were  prepared 
for  the  Free  Public  Library.  It  owes  its  origin  to 
the  kindly  regard  and  generous  impulses  of  a  dis- 
tinguished son  of  the  town,  Hon.  Ira  M.  Barton. 
Bearing  in  mind  the  benefits  he,  in  his  youth,  re- 
ceived from  a  similar  source,  and  the  appreciation 
in  which  he  had  been  held  by  the  people,  he  gave 
in  his  wiU  the  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars  towards 
establishing  a  Free  Public  Library.* 

This  gift  was  formally  accepted  by  the  town  in 
April,  1868.  In  November,  1869,  on  the  report  of 
a  committee  appointed  in  April  previous  to  consider 
the  subject,  it  was  voted  to  organize  a  town  library 
under  the  provisions  of  the  State  laws.  In  April, 
1870,  it  was  voted  to  appropriate  an  ante-room  of 
the  High  School  house  to  its  use,  and  a  committee 
was  chosen  to  fit  up  the  same,  purchase  books,  and 
provide  for  putting  the  library  in  operation,  the  ex- 
pense of  which  was  to  be  paid  from  the  Barton 
Fund.  The  money  refunded  from  the  dog  tax  was 
appropriated  to  the  library,  in  accordance  with 
Chapter  250  of  the  Acts  of  1869.  In  the  autumn 
of  1870  the  library  was  opened.  In  April,  1871, 
Charles  A.  Angell,  George  F.  Daniels,  and  E.  Har- 

*  Judge  Barton's  will,  dated  1  June,  1867,  contained  the  following: 
"One  thousand  dollars  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Oxford,  my 
native  place,  towards  establishing  a  Free  Public  Library  in  that  town,  as 
an  inadequate  return  for  the  kindness  and  patronage  of  their  fathers  in 
my  early  professional  life." 

16 


ris  Howland  were  chosen  a  committee  with  the 
power  to  employ  a  librarian  and  to  make  by-laws. 
In  1874  the  books,  then  numbering  1700,  were 
removed  to  their  present  location  in  the  Town  Hall. 
The  town  has,  since  the  beginning,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  one  or  two  years,  voted  to  it  the  dog  tax 
fund,  which,  besides  paying  current  expenses,  has 
increased  the  number  of  volumes  to  upwards  of 
4000.* 


REFERENCE  LIBRARY. 

A  most  valuable  feature  of  the  Free  Public  Li- 
brary is  its  Reference  Department.  It  is  rich  in 
general  works,  art  and  other  illustrated  books,  too 
cumbersome  or  too  costly  for  the  circulating  depart- 
ment, but  indispensable  for  occasional  use.  For  this 
the  town  is  indebted  to  the  liberality  of  Hon.  George 
L.  Davis  of  North  Andover,  who,  alive  to  the  im- 
portance of  public  records  and  of  proper  indexes  to 
make  them  available,  in  the  spring  of  1876  proposed 
to  present  to  the  town  $500  for  the  benefit  of  its 
library,  on  condition  that  it  would  cause  its  earlier 
records  of  Births,  Marriages,  and  Deaths  to  be  copied 
and  indexed.  In  April  of  the  same  year  this  offer 
was  accepted,  and  the  proposed  work  completed 
during  the  following  summer. 

The  number  of  volumes  in  this  department  is 
about  450.1 

In  addition  to  the  Circulating  and  Reference  De- 

*  NOW  8000. 
tNow  1200. 

17 


partments,  the  Reading  Table  is  constantly  supplied 
with  the  following  : — 

Periodicals.* 

MONTHLY. 

North  American  Review.  Forum. 

Harper's  Magazine.  Century. 

Scribner's.  St.  Nicholas. 

Cassell's  Magazine  of  Art.  Literary  News. 

Traveler's  Record.  Manifesto. 

WEEKLY. 

Illustrated  London  News.  American  Notes  and 

Harper's  Bazar.  Queries. 

Youths  Companion.  The  Open  Court. 

London  Graphic.  West  Shore. 

*This  list  revised  and  brought  up  to  date  includes  the  following  :— 

QUARTERLY. 

The  Forum. 
MONTHLY 

The  Atlantic.  The  North  American  Review. 

The  Century.  The  Outing  Magazine. 

The  Cosmopolitan.  The  Outlook. 

Country  Life  in  America.  Public  Libraries. 

Everybody's  Magazine.  The  American  Review  of  Reviews. 

Good  Housekeeping.  The  School  Arts  Book. 

Harper's  Bazar.  Scribner's  Magazine. 

Harper's  Magazine.  Success  Magazine. 

Masters  in  Art.  The  Technical  World. 

McClure's  Magazine.  The  Protectionist. 

Munsey's  Magazine.  The  Worcester  Magazine. 

New  England  Magazine.  The  World's  Work. 

WEEKLY.  JUVENILE. 

Frank  Leslie's.  The  American  Boy. 

Harper's  Weekly.  Our  Dumb  Animals. 

The  Illustrated  London  News.  St.  Nicholas. 

The  Webster  Times.  The  Youth's  Companion. 
The  Woman's  Journal. 

18 


With  numerous  occasional  periodicals  and  other 
matter  of  current  interest. 

The  rapid  increase  and  growing  appreciation  of 
the  Free  Public  Library  are  constantly  impressing 
its  larger  demands  and  suggesting  new  devices  for 
its  improvement,  and  we  cannot  close  this  brief 
sketch  more  fittingly  than  by  quoting  from  the 
Committee's  last  report  the  concluding  paragraphs : 

Provision  for  the  future  is  a  work  requiring  the 
co-operation  of  present  and  succeeding  committees ; 
of  town  authorities  and  their  constituents ;  of  all 
those  who  or  whose  ancestors  have  called  Oxford 
their  home ;  of  public  men  who  in  the  councils  of 
state  or  nation  have  the  disposal  of  public  docu- 
ments ;  of  the  wealthy  and  public-spirited,  whether 
living  or  dying,  and  especially  of  our  citizens,  rich 
and  poor  alike,  who  by  the  exercise  of  generosity 
and  self-denial  can  contribute  an  occasional  book, 
picture  or  other  object  of  interest,  and,  so,  adding  to 
the  general  aggregate,  can  engender  and  foster  a 
feeling  of  individual  proprietorship  more  helpful 
than  wealth  and  its  purchases. 

In  conclusion,  it  is  proper  to  suggest  another 
problem  whose  solution  will  fall  to  the  not  distant 
future,  "  What  provision  shall  be  made  for  this  pro- 
tege of  the  town  when  it  has  outgrown  its  present 
quarters  ?  "  The  good  fortune  of  such  towns  as  Con- 
cord, Quincy,  Lincoln,  Manchester-by-the-Sea,  and  a 
host  of  others  whose  public  library  buildings  are  at 
once  a  just  cause  of  local  pride  and  an  honor  to 
New  England  civilization,  suggest  the  hope  that 
some  public-spirited  benefactor  may  find  immor- 
tality by  linking  his  name  to  a  modest  architectural 
pile  in  which  the  Oxford  Free  Public  Library  may 
find  its  permanent  home. 

19 


Ten  years  later  this  "  Public-spirited  Benefactor  " 
whom  the  prophetic  vision  of  a  New  England  Faith 
dimly  descried,  appeared  in  the  person  of  our  es- 
teemed former  townsman,  and  the  outcome  is  set 
forth  in  the  last  report  of  the  Trustees  of  the 
Library. 

EXTRACT 

FROM   THE 

REPORT   OF  TRUSTEES, 
1905. 

In  our  annual  report  to  the  town  last  year,  we 
were  privileged  to  congratulate  our  fellow-citizens 
on  the  near  completion  of  the  magnificent  new 
Library  Building  then  in  process  of  construction  — 
the  princely  gift  of  Mr.  CHARLES  LARKED  of  Bos- 
ton, a  native  and  former  resident  of  the  town  —  for 
the  use  of  the  Free  Public  Library  and  as  a  per- 
petual memorial  of  his  mother. 

Since  that  report  was  made,  the  beautiful  build- 
ing has  been  finished,  the  extensive  grounds  have 
been  graded,  and  the  borders  planted  with  a  varie- 
gated selection  of  plants  and  shrubbery.  The  an- 
cient elms  at  the  front,  the  literal  groves  of  great 
maples  at  the  north  and  south,  the  massive  edifice 
in  the  centre,  and  the  tasteful  walks  and  borders 
that  conveniently  span  the  boundaries,  make  the 
grounds,  in  the  season  of  green  leaf  and  blossom, 
one  of  the  most  charming  spots  in  this  or  any  other 
village. 

And  here  we  are  happy  to  add  one  other  fact  to 
the  above  description.  By  deed  of  gift,  signed, 

20 


Ten  years  later  this  "  Public-spirited  Benefactor  " 
whom  the  prophetic  vision  of  a  New  England  Faith 
dimly  descried,  appeared  in  the  person  of  our  es- 
teemed former  townsman,  and  the  outcome  is  set 
forth  in  the  last  report  of  the  Trustees  of  the 
Library. 

EXTRACT 

FROM  THE 

REPORT   OF  TRUSTEES, 
1905. 


In  our  a^AM^^e^oi^^tl^^iM^town  last  year,  we 
were  privileged  to  congratulate  our  fellow-citizens 
on  the  near  coitiJ3lkti#n''M9f  the  magnificent  new 
Library  Building  then  in  process  of  construction  — 
the  vjM^^o?W*Qkffi&*&am  of  Bos- 
ton, a  native  and  former  resident  of  the  town  —  for 
the  use  of  the  Free  Public  Library  and  as  a  per- 


. 
Since  that  report  was  made,  the  beautiful  build- 

ing has  been  fii^^dfel|ji^u  extensive  grounds  have 
been  graded,  and  the  borders  planted  with  a  varie- 
gated selec^aept^ia^  ca^4^rubbery.  The  an- 
cient elms  at  the  front,  the  literal  groves  of  great 
maples  at  the  north  and  south,  the  massive  edifice 
in  the  centre,  and  the  tasteful  walks  and  borders 
that  conveniently  span  the  boundaries,  make  the 
grounds,  in  the  season  of  green  leaf  and  blossom, 
one  of  the  most  charming  spots  in  this  or  any  other 
village. 

And  here  we  are  happy  to  add  one  other  fact  to 
the   above    description.     By  deed  of  gift,  signed, 


20 


sealed,  and  publicly  delivered,  all  this  has  become 
the  property  of  the  town,  and  the  town  has  entered 
into  possession.  Here,  for  all  time,  will  be  the 
home  of  the  OXFORD  FREE  PUBLIC  LIBRARY.  Our 
limit  is  now  about  8000  volumes.  The  building  is 
planned  to  accommodate  40,000,  so  that  we  may 
safely  say  its  conveniences  will  be  ample  for  a  hun- 
dred years  to  come,  or  so  long  as  its  massive  walls 
shall  withstand  the  dangers  of  fire  and  flood,  or  the 
slower  disintegration  of  the  elements. 

It  was  in  the  spring  of  1900,  at  the  annual  April 
meeting,  that  the  purpose  of  Mr.  Lamed  to  donate 
a  large  sum  toward  a  new  library  building  was  first 
made  known  to  the  town.  The  Library  had  out- 
grown its  quarters  in  the  rooms  aUotted  to  it  in 
Memorial  Hall,  and  its  cramped  and  crowded  condi- 
tion had  become  a  matter  of  serious  consideration 
by  the  officials  in  charge  and  by  the  great  public 
who  availed  themselves  of  its  advantages.  A  read- 
justment of  partitions  to  give  more  room  would  dis- 
commode other  departments  occupying  the  lower 
floor  of  the  town  building,  and  would  be  an  expen- 
sive and,  in  the  growing  condition  of  the  library, 
but  a  temporary  remedy.  The  proposal  of  Mr. 
Larned,  coming  in  this  opportune  time,  was  a  prac- 
tical solution  of  the  difficult  problem.  The  town 
accepted  his  generous  offer  with  thanks,  and  chose 
a  committee  acceptable  to  Mr.  Larned  to  select  and 
purchase  a  site  and  to  superintend  the  erection  of 
the  contemplated  library  building. 

There  was  a  delay  of  two  years,  during  which  a 
site  was  selected,  plans  procured,  the  contract  given 

21 


out,  and  everything  made  ready  for  the  commence- 
ment of  the  work.  It  was  at  this  stage  that  Mr. 
Lamed  assumed  the  whole  financial  responsibility. 
In  the  spring  of  1903  ground  was  broken,  the 
foundations  put  in,  and  during  the  season  the  work 
progressed  toward  completion.  May  20  the  corner 
stone  was  laid  by  the  Most  Worshipful  Masonic 
Grand  Lodge  of  Massachusetts,  under  the  escort  of 
the  local  Lodge.  It  was  a  magnificent  ceremony, 
and  the  occasion  was  made  a  holiday  in  the  town. 
In  the  winter  and  spring  of  1904  the  carpenters  had 
finished  their  work,  the  elegant  furniture  was  put  in, 
the  stack-rooms  and  book-shelves  arranged,  and, 
when  all  things  were  ready,  the  library  was  moved 
into  its  new  home.  On  the  16th  of  July  the  doors 
were  first  opened  to  the  public  and  the  first  books 
issued  from  the  new  quarters.  The  building  had 
not  then  been  given  over  to  the  town,  and  its  early 
occupancy  was  therefore  through  the  courtesy  of 
the  Building  Committee. 

But  the  5th  of  October,  1904,  was  the  great  day 
in  the  history  of  the  Library,  when  the  title  of  this 
splendid  property  passed  into  the  possession  of  the 
town,  and  the  buildings  and  grounds  dedicated  by 
imposing  ceremonials  to  the  uses  and  purposes  of  the 
OXFORD  FREE  PUBLIC  LIBRARY  forever.  These 
formalities  took  place  in  Memorial  Hall,  after  an 
inspection  of  the  new  building  and  grounds  by  all 
who  were  interested.  The  house  was  packed  with 
an  audience  composed  of  home-comers,  former  citi- 
zens, interested  visitors,  and  our  own  people.  Upon 
the  platform  were  seated  the  town  officers,  the 


speakers,  and  the  especial  guests  of  the  occasion, 
among  whom  was  Mr.  CHARLES  LARNED,  the  ob- 
served of  all  observers  as  the  generous  giver  of 
the  building  we  were  dedicating.  The  exercises,  in 
brief,  were  as  follows  :  — 

INVOCATION Eev.  I.  A.  Mesler 

VOCAL  Music Double  Quartet. 

JOHN  E.  KIMBALL,  Esq.,  Chairman  of  the  Building  Commit- 
tee, presided,  who,  after  an  appropriate  introductory 
address,  called  on  the  following  gentlemen  for  brief 
responses :  — 

EDMUND  M.  BARTON,  Librarian  of  the  American  Anti- 
quarian Society  and  son  of  Hon.  Ira  M.  Barton,  the 
Founder  of  the  Library. 
SAMUEL  S.  GREEN,  Librarian  of  the  Free  Public  Library 

of  Worcester. 

Hon.  DAVID  I.   ROBINSON,  President  of  the   Robinson 
Family  Genealogical  and  Historical  Association. 

VOCAL  Music Oxford  Male  Quartet. 

DELIVERY  OF  DEED  AND  KEYS  to  Town  Authorities   and 

transfer  to  Trustees  of  Library. 
DEDICATORY  PRAYER     ....  Rev.  Charles  M.  Carpenter 

ADDRESS, 
Hon.   CARROLL    D.   WRIGHT,  President    of    Clark    College, 

Worcester. 

SINGING,  "  AMERICA  "  .  .  The  Audience,  led  by  Quartet. 
BENEDICTION Rev.  Albert  Tyler 

The  steps  which  have  led  to  this  consummation 
were  as  follows :  — 

At  the  Annual  Town  Meeting  held  on  the  2  April, 
1900,  under  Article  13, — "To  see  if  the  town  will 
designate  a  Committee  to  confer  with  Mr.  Charles 
Larned,  of  Boston,  in  relation  to  a  proposed  gift  to 

23 


the  town," — the  following  letter  was  read  by  Mr. 
John  E.  Kimball :  - 

EOOM  1025,  TREMONT  BUILDING,  BOSTON,  MASS., 

February  15,  1900. 

To  THE  VOTERS  OF  OXFORD  : 

Gentlemen, —  It  has  been  my  desire,  for  many 
years,  to  do  something  in  a  substantial  way  for  my 
native  town  where  my  parents  lived  and  where  their 
mortal  remains  repose. 

If  this  desire  is  ever  realized,  it  is  important,  not 
to  say  essential,  that  it  should  be,  not  only  with  the 
approval,  but  with  the  hearty  co-operation,  of  the 
residents  of  the  town. 

My  plan  contemplates  the  erection  of  a  building 
for  the  Free  Public  Library,  which  shall  be  a 
memorial  to  my  mother.  In  designating  the  Free 
Public  Library,  I  assume  that  there  is  no  other  insti- 
tution in  the  town  the  promotion  of  whose  interest 
would  so  enlist  the  sympathies  of  all  the  people. 
Also,  aside  from  the  promptings  of  filial  gratitude, 
it  seems  to  me  not  unfitting  that  we  keep  in  remem- 
brance those  who,  though  best  known  in  the 
domestic  circle,  trace  their  lineage  to  such  Makers 
of  New  England  as  Rev.  John  Robinson,  of  Leyden. 

I,  therefore,  respectfully  suggest  that,  if  deemed 
expedient,  you  provide  for  the  selection  of  a  Com- 
mittee to  confer  with  me  at  Boston  in  relation  to 
the  details  of  the  project. 

Respectfully  yours, 

CHARLES  LARNED. 

In  accepting  the  proposition,  it  was  unanimously 

Resolved,  That  the  voters  of  Oxford  heartily  re- 
spond to  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Charles  Lamed,  of 
Boston,  and  in  pursuance  thereof  designate  as  a 

24 


Committee  for  conference  Messrs.  Walter  D.  Tyler, 
Franklin  G.  Daniels,  and  Alfred  M.  Chaffee. 

Resolved,  That  this  Committee  is  instructed  to 
communicate  with  Mr.  Lamed  without  delay,  and 
hold  itself  in  readiness  to  wait  upon  him  at  such 
time  and  place  as  he  may  indicate. 

Resolved,  That  the  result  of  this  conference,  the 
expenses  of  which  shall  be  borne  by  the  town, 
should  be  embodied  in  a  written  report  to  be  sub- 
mitted at  a  special  meeting  called  by  the  Selectmen, 
as  early  as  possible. 

This  special  meeting  was  called  for  the  evening 
of  29  May,  1900,  at  which  the  Committee  made  the 
following 

REPORT. 

The  Committee  appointed  by  the  Town  of 
Oxford  at  their  annual  meeting  held  April  2d, 
1900,  to  confer  with  Mr.  Charles  Larned,  of  Boston, 
Mass.,  in  relation  to  a  proposed  gift  to  the  town, 
have  completed  their  labors  and  offer  the  following 
report :  — 

The  Committee  waited  upon  Mr.  Larned  at  his 
office  in  Boston  on  April  7th,  and  received  the  fol- 
lowing proposition  from  him,  viz. :  — 

Mr.  Larned  wishes  to  cause  to  be  erected  in  Oxford 
as  a  memorial  to  his  mother  a  Free  Public  Library. 
Building  upon  the  following  conditions  :  — 

The  building  shall  be  used  as  a  Free  Public 
Library  Building  for  all  time,  and  to  be  always 
known  as  the  "  Charles  Larned  Memorial." 

The  cost  of  the  building  to  be  borne  two-thirds 
by  Mr.  Larned  and  one-third  by  the  town,  and  the 
cost  to  be  from  $15,000  to  $18,000,  exclusive  of 
site, 

25 


The  location  to  be  central,  with  ample  grounds, 
and  the  building  to  be  set  back  from  the  street  and 
the  site  to  be  acceptable  to  Mr.  Lamed,  but  to  be 
provided  by  the  town. 

The  building  to  be  of  brick  or  stone,  and  to  be 
constructed  in  good  workmanlike  manner. 

Your  Committee,  having  talked  with  Mr.  Lamed 
concerning  the  best  method  of  carrying  out  his 
ideas,  offer,  as  a  part  of  this  report,  the  following 
resolution,  viz. :  — 

Resolved,  That  the  town  accept  the  proposition 
of  Mr.  Larned,  and  that  a  committee  of  three  citi- 
zens of  Oxford,  consisting  of  John  E.  Kimball, 
Orrin  F.  Joslin,  and  Alfred  M.  Chaffee,  be  hereby 
appointed  a  Building  Committee. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  this  Committee  to  consider 
all  practical  locations  for  the  building,  to  ascertain 
the  cost  of  each  and  Mr.  Larned' s  choice  in  the 
matter,  and  to  report  to  the  town  at  a  special  meet- 
ing to  be  called  for  that  purpose,  with  their  recom- 
mendations on  the  subject. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  this  Committee  to  attend 
to  the  erection  of  the  building  and  all  other  matters 
appertaining  to  the  subject. 

WALTER  D.  TYLER,       1 

ALFRED  M.  CHAFFEE,     >  Committee. 

FRANKLIN  G.  DANIELS,  J 

Approved.    CHARLES  LARNED. 

In  the  acceptance  of  this  report  it  was  voted  to 
adopt  the  resolution  incorporated  therein,  and  that 
the  Committee  chosen  report  at  an  adjournment  of 
this  meeting  to  be  held  June  30  at  7.30  P.M. 

A  Committee  of  three,  consisting  of  C.I.  Rawson, 
C.  S.  Lyman,  and  H.  A.  Larned,  was  appointed  by 
the  Chair  to  wait  upon  Mr.  0.  F.  Joslin,  who  had 


expressed  his  willingness  to  give  a  site  for  the 
building,  for  which  a  vote  of  thanks  was  passed  at 
the  adjourned  meeting  held  on  the  30  June,  1900. 

In  accordance  with  the  above  action  the  ad- 
journed meeting  was  held  at  the  date  specified,  and, 
the  report  of  the  Building  Committee  on  a  site  for 
the  Charles  Lamed  Memorial  being  called  for,  it 
was  presented  by  the  Chairman  as  follows :  — 

To  THE  VOTERS  OF  OXFORD  : 

In  pursuance  of  instructions  coupled  with  the  ap- 
pointment of  a  Building  Committee  at  the  special 
town  meeting  held  on  the  29  May,  1900,  a  careful 
and  exhaustive  examination  of  available  locations 
for  the  proposed 

CHARLES  LARNED  MEMORIAL 

has  been  made  in  conjunction  with  Mr.  Lamed  in 
person,  and  has  resulted  in  reducing  the  question  of 
selection  to  a  choice  between  three  eligible  sites, 
to  wit :  the  Hyde  property,  the  White  property, 
and  the  Cushman  lot. 

Aside  from  the  essential  features  of  ample  space 
and  central  location,  the  considerations  which  have 
focussed  the  attention  of  your  Committee  upon 
these  three  sites  are  that  all,  perhaps  in  varying 
degrees,  are  easily  accessible,  reasonably  quiet, 
adapted  to  proper  architectural  effect,  upon  the 
main  street,  upon  the  right  side  of  the  street,  and 
well  shaded. 

The  Hyde  property,  on  the  north-west  corner  of 
Main  and  Sigourney  Streets,  presents  a  frontage  of 
about  180  feet  on  Main  Street  by  200  feet  on 
Sigourney  Street,  and  contains  a  two-story  house 
with  ells  and  barn.  The  price  is  $6,500. 

27 


The  White  property,  near  the  C 
church,  consists  of  two  lots, — a  corner  lot  with  a 
frontage  of  109  feet  on  Main  Street  by  200  feet  on 
Church  Street,  containing  a  dwelling  and  barn,  also 
a  lot  of  irregular  form  opposite  the  north-east  corner 
of  the  old  cemetery  and  contiguous  to  the  first, 
with  a  frontage  of  93  feet  on  Church  Street,  run- 
ning north  133  feet,  where  it  narrows  to  40  feet, 
and  containing  a  tenement  house.  All  this  prop- 
erty can  be  bought  for  $3,000  ;  or  a  part  of  the 
corner  lot,  without  the  buildings,  measuring  109 
feet  on  Main  Street  and  109  feet  on  Church  Street, 
for  $1,500,  on  condition  that  the  barn  shall  be 
moved  a  few  feet  to  the  west  and  made  to  front  the 
east,  at  the  town's  expense. 

The  Cushman  lot,  immediately  north  of  Mrs. 
Cushman's  house,  may  be  described  as  a  parallelo- 
gram, with  the  north-east  corner  42  feet  front  by 
172  feet  cut  out :  this  leaves  a  frontage  on  Main 
Street  of  88  feet,  with  a  depth  westward  to  the  line 
of  the  High  School  lot  of  nearly  450  feet,  and  ap- 
proaching within  about  75  feet  of  Barton  Street. 
The  lot  can  be  purchased  for  $1,200,  and  will  cost 
the  town  nothing. 

As  other  elements  than  mere  eligibility  of  a  site 
for  library  purposes  enter  into  the  problem  of  se- 
lection, it  has  seemed  to  your  Committee  to  accord 
more  fully  with  the  spirit  of  the  instructions  given 
not  to  attempt  to  pronounce  upon  the  question  of 
cost  by  recommending  unconditionally  a  specific 
site,  but  rather  to  eliminate  non-essential  features, 
and  so  reduce  the  problem  to  manageable  propor- 
tions, and  thus  hand  it  over  to  the  voters  in  the 
compact  form  which  it  now  bears. 

The  considerations  pro  and  con  touching  each 
of  the  above-named  locations  have  been  carefully 
canvassed  by  the  Committee,  but  it  has  been 


thought  best  not  to  encumber  this  report  by  setting 
them  forth  in  detail. 

In  view  of  the  fact,  however,  that  we  are  called 
upon  to  act,  not  for  ourselves  alone,  but  for  genera- 
tions yet  unborn,  and  that  probably  no  local  ques- 
tion during  all  the  years  of  the  century  now  closing 
so  vitally  concerns  the  mental  and  moral  well-being 
of  the  young  people  of  Oxford,  present  and  future, 
and  while  not  unmindful  of  the  limitations  of  our 
prerogatives  as  a  committee  appointed  for  a  special 
purpose,  it  may  not  be  improper  to  suggest  that,  as 
we  have  enjoyed  and  are  now  enjoying  the  bounty 
of  a  long  line  of  liberal  benefactors  in  the  past,  it 
becomes  us,  who  are  but  temporary  custodians  of 
the  welfare  of  others,  to  plan  generously  and  well 
for  the  future  Oxford  in  which  we  of  to-day  can  be 
at  best  only  a  memory. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

JOHN  E.  KIMBALL.       )     r>   -7  ?• 
OBRIN  F.  JOSLIN,         \Buildmg 
ALFRED  M.  CHAFFBB,  j  Com™ttee- 
OXFOKD,  MASS.,  30  June,  1900. 

A  motion  was  then  made  by  Mr.  Lawrence  F. 
Kilty,  that  "  we  reconsider  the  vote  whereby  we 
voted  to  accept  the  proposition  offered  by  Mr.  C. 
Lamed,  at  a  previous  session  of  this  meeting." 
Carried  by  a  vote  of  76  to  28,  whereupon  it  was 
voted  to  lay  the  report  of  the  Building  Committee 
on  the  table. 

Mr.  Lamed  having  in  private  generously  inti- 
mated his  willingness  to  allow  his  proposition  of 
April,  1900,  to  remain  open  for  action  another  year, 
which  intimation  was  reaffirmed  by  a  letter  to  the 
Committee  dated  at  Cocoanut  Grove,  Fla.,  March 


14,  1901,  at  the  annual  meeting  held  1  April, 
1901,  the  subject  reappeared  in  Article  16  of  the 
Warrant,  — "  To  see  if  the  town  will  accept  the 
propositions  of  Mr.  Charles  Larned  and  Mr.  Orrin 
F.  Joslin  in  relation  to  a  Free  Public  Library  Build- 
ing, and  raise  and  appropriate  money  therefor,  as 
petitioned  for  by  John  E.  Kimball,  Alfred  M. 
Chaffee,  and  Orrin  F.  Joslin,  or  act  thereon." 

Mr.  Joslin's  proposition  is  embodied  in  the  fol- 
lowing memorandum :  — 

I  propose  to  convey  to  the  Town  of  Oxford  by 
warranty  deed  all  that  portion  of  the  present 
Cushman  lot  lying  north  of  a  line  from  a  point  on 
the  Highway  about  88  feet  south  of  the  Newton 
line,  running  westerly  about  450  feet  to  the  Barber 
line  and  including  the  section  to  the  south  and  west 
of  the  Newton  Estate,  about  42  x  272  feet,  upon  the 
following  conditions,  viz. :  — 

The  gift  shall  be  held  and  occupied  in  perpetuity 
for  a  Free  Public  Library  Building,  or,  if  not  all 
required  for  such  building,  the  residue  for  a  Free 
Public  School  Building.  In  case  the  Town  prefers 
for  such  purpose  some  other  site,  I  will  give  in  lieu 
of  the  Cushman  lot  the  sum  of  ($1,000)  One  Thou- 
sand Dollars. 

ORRIN  F.  JOSLIN. 

OXFORD,  March  30,  1901. 

It  was  voted  to  accept  the  propositions  of  Mr. 
Charles  Larned  and  Mr.  Orrin  F.  Joslin,  and  to  carry 
into  effect  their  provisions.  The  same  Building 
Committee  was  appointed,  and  the  sum  of  $500  was 
raised  and  appropriated  for  their  expenses. 

A  special  meeting  of  the  voters  was  called  for  the 

30 


evening  of  18  May,  1901,  at  which  the  following 
report  was  read  and  accepted :  — 

Your  Committee,  having  discharged  its  duties, 
submit  the  following  report :  — 

The  Cushman  Lot,  about  88  feet  front  on  Main 
Street  and  running  back  to  the  High  School  lot 
\y%  acres,  will  cost  the  town  absolutely  nothing. 

The  Cushman  Farm,  including  the  whole  of  the 
Cushman  property,  house  and  barn,  between  Mrs. 
Newton's  and  Mrs.  Wheelock's,  will  cost  the  town 
$4,000. 

The  Morgan  Corner,  including  it  and  the  Chaffee 
property,  two  houses  and  one  barn,  will  cost  the 
town  $4,900. 

The  Hyde  Lot,  house  and  barn,  will  cost  the 
town  $4,500. 

The  White  Lot,  north  of  the  Congregational 
church,  two  houses  and  one  barn,  wih1  cost  the  town 
$2,000.  > 

The  Sigourney  Lot,  85  x  145  feet,  opposite  Town 
Hall,  house  and  barn,  will  cost  the  town  $3,000. 

0.  F.  JOSLIN. 
JOHN  E.  KIMBALL. 
A.  M.  CHAFFEE. 

From  these  the  Hyde  lot  was  selected  by  the 
following  baUot :  — 

Whole  number  of  votes  cast,  152. 
Blank 

Sigourney  Lot          1 
White  Lot 
Cushman  Farm 
Cushman  Lot          32 
Morgan  Lot  33 

Hyde  Lot  79 

31 


and  the  Building  Committee  was  authorized  to 
make  the  purchase. 

It  was  then  voted  to  sell  the  buildings,  also  to  sell 
80  feet  of  land  fronting  Sigourney  Street,  with  the 
house  and  barn. 

At  a  special  meeting  called  for  the  evening  of 
17  September,  1901,  after  a  nearly  unanimous  vote 
refusing  to  borrow  and  appropriate  the  sum  of 
$4,500  for  the  purchase  of  the  aforesaid  Hyde  lot 
it  was 

Voted,  "  To  annul  and  revoke  all  acts  and  votes 
heretofore  taken  relative  to  a  new  building  and  site 
for  a  Library." 

The  way  was  thus  cleared  for  history  to  repeat 
itself,  and  accordingly  the  Warrant  for  the  next 
Annual  Town  Meeting  held  on  the  7  April,  1902, 
contained  such  Articles  as  the  f oUowing :  — 

Article  12.  To  hear  the  report  of  the  Library 
Building  Committee  and  act  thereon. 

Article  13.  To  see  what  action  the  town  will 
take  in  regard  to  the  gifts  of  Mr.  Charles  Larned 
and  Mr.  Orrin  F.  Joslin  for  a  Free  Public  Library. 

Article  14.  To  raise  and  appropriate  a  sum  of 
money  not  exceeding  Fifty-seven  Hundred  Dollars 
( $5700)  to  pay  for  the  Hyde  Lot  as  purchased  by 
the  Building  Committee,  as  authorized  by  vote  of 
the  town  at  a  Special  Town  Meeting  held  May  18, 
1901. 

Article  15.  To  raise  and  appropriate  the  sum  of 
Eighteen  Hundred  Dollars  ($1800)  to  build  a  Free 
Public  Library,  or  act  thereon  etc. 


32 


The  outcome  was  a  new  departure  in  the  passage 
of  two  motions,  both  by  Mr.  Edwin  Bartlett :  — 

That  the  School  Committee  act  in  conjunction 
with  the  old  Library  Committee  (sic),  and  confer 
with  Mr.  Charles  Larned  in  relation  to  a  Library 
and  High  School  Building  combined,  and  report  at 
a  special  meeting  to  be  called  as  soon  as  possible. 

also 

To  authorize  the  Library  Committee,  J.  E.  Kimball, 
0.  F.  Joslin,  A.  M.  Chaffee,  and  the  School  Commit- 
tee, acting  jointly,  to  propose  to  Mr.  Larned  to  allow 
his  gift  of  $12,000  and  accrued  interest  to  be  used 
in  building  a  Union  Building  to  contain  a  library 
and  the  high  school,  costing  not  to  exceed  $28,000. 

At  the  special  meeting  called  for  the  evening  of 
6  May,  1902,  "to  hear  the  report  of  the  joint 
Committee  in  regard  to  a  Union  Building  to  accom- 
modate a  High  School  and  a  Library,"  the  report  was 
as  f  oUows  :  — 

OXFORD,  MASS.,  May  6,  1902. 

Your  joint  Committee  appointed  at  our  last  Annual 
Town  Meeting  to  confer  with  Mr.  Charles  Larned 
in  regard  to  using  his  gift  and  accrued  interest  in 
the  construction  of  a  Union  Building  to  accommo- 
date a  Library  and  High  School,  having  discharged 
its  duty,  submit  the  following 

REPORT. 

On  Saturday,  April  12,  Edwin  N.  Bartlett, 
David  Glass,  0.  F.  Joslin,  and  A.  M.  Chaffee,  went  to 
Boston  on  the  8.58  train  from  Worcester,  going 
direct  to  the  office  of  Mr.  Larned. 

After  a  careful  consideration  of  the  subject  Mr. 

33 


Lamed  signified  his  willingness  to  write  a  letter 
setting  forth  his  views,  which  letter  reads  as  fol- 
lows :  — 

BOSTON,  MASS.,  April  15, 1902. 

Mr.  A.  M.  CHAFFEE, 

Oxford,  Mass. 

Dear  Sir,  —  Replying  to  your  request  that  I  write 
you  a  letter  defining  my  position  on  a  proposed 
building  for  library  and  school  combined,  I  beg 
leave  to  say  that  a  combination  building  for  library 
and  school  for  the  town  of  Oxford  has  to  my  mind 
many  serious  objections ;  but,  should  the  voters  of 
Oxford  decide  that  a  combination  building  is  what 
they  want,  my  offer  of  $12,000,  with  interest 
thereon,  I  am  willing  should  be  used  as  part  payment 
for  such  a  building,  which  you  tell  me  may  cost 
about  $28,000. 

The  Building  Committee  to  remain  as  named  in 
my  original  proposition. 

Trusting  that  herein  I  have  covered  all  the  points 
of  your  inquiry,  I  remain, 

Very  truly  yours, 

CHARLES  LARNED. 


On  Monday,  April  14th,  your  joint  Committee  met 
at  the  residence  of  Mr.  0.  F.  Joslin  to  discuss  the 
matter,  and  after  careful  consideration  of  the  subject 
it  was  decided  that  your  Committee  make  no  recom- 
mendations, but  desire  that  the  voters  should  carefully 
consider  the  propositions  and  decide  the  question  as 
it  seems  in  their  wisdom  best. 

On  April  18th  your  Committee  received  a  further 
communication  from  Mr.  Lamed,  as  follows :  — 


34 


BOSTON,  MASS.,  April  18, 1902. 
Mr.  A.  M.  CHAFFEE, 

Oxford,  Mass. 

Dear  Sir,  —  You  doubtless  have  my  letter  of 
April  15.  I  would  like  to  say  in  addition  that, 
should  the  town  vote  to  build  a  library  building 
on  the  Hyde  lot  and  a  school  building  on  another 
lot,  I  would  be  pleased  to  donate  $1,000  toward  the 
school  building.  In  that  case  the  town  would 
have  full  control  of  erection  of  school  building. 

Yours  truly, 

CHARLES  LARNED. 

In  conclusion  the  Committee  would  recommend 
that,  whatever  action  the  town  may  take  in  the 
premises,  that  a  vote  of  thanks  be  passed  expressive 
of  their  appreciation  of  Mr.  Charles  Lamed' s  and 
Mr.  0.  F.  Joslin's  most  generous  offers. 

All  of  which  is  most  respectfully  submitted, 

0.  F.  JOSLIN. 
A.  M.  CHAFFEE. 
JOHN  E.  KIMBALL. 
DAVID  GLASS. 
JOHNSON  R.  WOODWARD. 
EDWIN  N.  BARTLETT. 

It  was  voted  to  accept  the  report  of  the  joint 
Committee,  including  the  two  letters  from  Mr. 
Charles  Larned,  and  that  the  same  be  spread  upon 
the  records  of  the  town. 

At  this  meeting  it  was  also  voted  that  the  Select- 
men and  Treasurer  be  directed  to  borrow  a  sum  not 
to  exceed  Fifty-seven  Hundred  Dollars  ($5700)  to 
pay  for  the  Hyde  lot,  purchased  by  the  Building 

35 


Committee,  as  authorized  by  vote  of  the  town  at  a 
Special  Town  Meeting  held  18  May,  1901. 

Under  another  article,  that  they  be  directed  to 
turn  over  the  license  fees  for  this  year  to  the 
Library  Building  Committee. 

(This  "tainted  money"  was  subsequently  turned 
back  into  the  treasury.) 

And,  finally,  "that  the  town  accept  the  gifts  of 
Mr.  Charles  Larned  and  Mr.  Orrin  F.  Joslin  in  re- 
lation to  a  Free  Public  Library,  —  said  gifts,  Twelve 
Thousand  Dollars  ($12,000),  with  interest,  from 
Mr.  Larned,  and  One  Thousand  Dollars  ($1,000) 
from  Mr.  Joslin,  coupled  with  conditions  which 
they  have  stated  in  writing," — with  a  vote  of  thanks 
to  these  gentlemen,  with  acceptance,  thanks,  and 
acknowledgment  for  Mr.  Larned' s  gift  of  One 
Thousand  Dollars  ($1,000)  for  a  High  School 
Building. 

In  the  accepted  belief  that,  despite  the  contradic- 
tions of  two  years'  experience  the  final  vote  of 
acceptance  meant  what  it  purported  to  mean,  the 
policy  of  obstruction  seeming  to  have  fairly  ex- 
hausted itself,  from  this  time  the  enterprise  pro- 
gressed steadily  and  without  interruption  to  its  final 
accomplishment.  Henceforth  the  Building  Com- 
mittee was  left  to  prosecute  its  work  unmolested, 
and  at  the  Annual  Town  Meeting  held  on  6  April, 
1903,  reported  progress  as  follows  : — 

Perhaps  no  report  from  this  Committee  is  caUed 
for  till  our  work  is  done.  When  that  period  ar- 
rives, we  hope  the  work  will  speak  for  itself.  Con- 
scious of  the  fact,  however,  that  the  public  is  deeply 

36 


interested,  we  have  deemed  it  best  to  report  prog- 
ress coupled  with  some  considerations  touching  its 
financial  aspect. 

One  year  ago,  as  you  remember,  preliminary 
sketches  by  several  architects  were  submitted,  which 
led  to  the  choice  of  Cutting,  Carlton  &  Cutting  of 
Worcester,  who  proceeded  at  once  to  embody  our 
plan  in  working  drawings.  On  the  completion  of 
plan  and  specifications  the  season  was  too  far  ad- 
vanced to  justify  an  attempt  to  erect  the  building 
before  winter.  The  time  was  improved,  however, 
in  devising  improvements  in  the  plan,  selecting  ma- 
terials, and  seeking  out  the  right  men.  The  con- 
tract was  finally,  in  January,  awarded  to  Kankin  & 
Woodside  of  Worcester,  for  the  sum  of  $21,100 
and  the  stone  and  brick  on  the  lot.  Meanwhile  the 
buildings  and  other  property  had  been  sold  and  re- 
moved, and  the  site  placed  in  readiness  for  the 
builders,  who  began  work  about  two  weeks  ago. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  a  printed  statement 
submitted  to  the  town  in  1902  represented  the 
"  Balance  "  over  and  above  available  funds  "  needed 
to  complete  the  library  building"  to  be  $1,800,  the 
members  of  the  Building  Committee  being  person- 
ally pledged  to  be  responsible  for  any  excess  in  cost 
over  $18,000. 

A  letter  just  received  from  Mr.  Lamed  may  mod- 
ify these  conditions  by  relieving  the  town  of  the 
necessity  of  raising  even  the  $1,800,  and  placing  at 
our  disposal  for  better  and  more  complete  equip- 
ment the  funds  already  on  deposit. 

The  letter  is  as  follows : — 

EOOM  1025  TKEMONT  BUILDING,  BOSTON,  MASS., 

April  3,  1903. 

To  THE  VOTERS  OF  OXFORD  : 

Gentlemen, — Whereas  the  town  has  generously 
secured  and  purchased  a  more  expensive  and  ell- 

37 


gible  lot  for  the  Free  Public  Library  building  than 
was  at  first  anticipated,  said  lot  being  devoted  ex- 
clusively to  the  library  building,  and  on  which  said 
building  is  now  in  process  of  erection,  and 
whereas  said  library  building  will,  when  completed, 
cost  largely  in  excess  of  the  original  sum  men- 
tioned, $18,000,  after  due  consideration  I  have  de- 
cided, with  the  consent  and  approval  of  the  town, 
to  modify  my  original  proposition,  to  wit :  — 

To  assume  and  bear  the  entire  expense  and  cost 
of  the  library  building  up  to  the  sum  of  Twenty- 
four  Thousand  Dollars  ($24,000),  thereby  enabling 
the  town,  through  the  Building  Committee,  to  fur- 
nish and  equip  the  library  in  a  more  liberal  manner 
than  they  would  otherwise  feel  like  doing. 

Very  truly  yours, 

CHARLES  LARNED. 

Perhaps  the  Building  Committee  might  consider 
its  duty  discharged  when  the  building  was  com- 
pleted, and  leave  the  matter  of  equipment  and 
adornment  of  grounds  to  other  hands;  but  the 
comprehensive  plan  upon  which  we  have  labored 
covers  every  detail  inside  and  outside  the  building, 
all  of  which  should  be  harmoniously  wrought  out, 
and  it  would  be  more  in  accordance  with  the  fitness 
of  things,  not  to  say  our  own  views,  to  turn  over 
the  property  finished,  equipped,  and  ready  for  use. 

Therefore,  we  submit  the  following  recommenda- 
tions : — 

I.  That  the  proposition  embodied  in  the  accom- 
panying letter  of  Mr.  Charles  Larned  be  accepted 
with  appropriate  acknowledgments. 

II.  That  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  buildings 
and  other  property  on  the  library  premises  be  ap- 


propriated  to  the  grading  and  laying  out  of  the 
grounds. 

III.  That  all  funds  in  the  town  treasury  or  on 
deposit  available  for  library  purposes  be  turned 
over  to  the  Building  Committee,  to  be  used,  or  such 
portion  thereof  as  may  be  necessary,  to  properly 
furnish  and  equip  the  new  building. 

Building 


JOHN  E.  KIMBALL, 
0.  F.  JOSLIN, 
A.  M.  CHAFFEE, 


Committee 

of  the 
Charles  Lamed 


f  Memorial. 

,x 

OXFORD,  MASS.,  6  April,  1903. 

The  report  was  supplemented  by  the  statement 
that  the  property  on  the  Hyde  lot  had  been  sold  for 
nearly  $700,  and  that  the  Building  Committee  this 
day  had  voted  to  refund  to  the  town  the  $2,250 
license  money  set  apart  for  their  use  on  6  May, 
1902. 

By  a  unanimous  vote  the  report  of  the  Building 
Committee  was  adopted,  and  thanks  tendered  to  Mr. 
Charles  Lamed,  of  Boston,  for  his  generous  additional 
gift,  which  the  Town  Clerk  was  instructed  to  enter 
upon  the  records  and  communicate  to  Mr.  Larned. 

At  the  Annual  Town  Meeting  held  on  3  April, 
1905,  after  the  completion  and  dedication  of  the 
building,  the  following  resolutions  were  unanimously 
adopted  :  — 

Besolved,  That  the  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of 
Oxford  desire  to  place  upon  record  an  expression  of 
their  appreciation  and  gratitude  for  the  munificent 
gift  of  the 


CHARLES  LABNED  MEMORIAL 

recently  dedicated  to  the  use  of  the  Free  Public 
Library. 

It  will  stand  through  the  years  to  come  a  monu- 
ment of  rare  public  spirit  guided  by  wisdom  and 
intelligent  foresight,  while  presenting  to  old  and 
young  an  ever-abiding  object-lesson  inspiring  loy- 
alty and  filial  gratitude  and  beckoning  to  higher 
planes  of  thought  and  life. 

While  thus  voicing  the  sentiment  of  every  resi- 
dent of  Oxford,  coupled  with  the  hope  that  the  gen- 
erous Donor  may  long  be  spared  to  witness  and 
enjoy  the  fruits  of  his  noble  benefaction,  we  trust 
he  may  find  satisfaction  and  reward  in  the  reflection 
that  such  acts  are  not  bounded  by  the  span  of  a 
single  life,  but  are  self -perpetuating  and  immortal. 

Resolved,  That  the  claim  upon  Mr.  Charles 
Larned  for  $1,000,  pledged  for  a  High  School 
Building  to  forestall  the  adoption  of  a  plan  whose 
unwisdom  is  now  universally  recognized,  is  hereby 
voluntarily  relinquished. 


40 


LAYING  OF  THE  CORNER-STONE. 

Excavation  having  been  made  and  the  founda- 
tions completed,  the  20  May,  1903,  was  designated 
for  the  ceremony  of  Laying  the  Corner-stone.  An 
invitation  had  been  extended  to  the  Masonic 
Grand  Lodge  of  Massachusetts  to  take  charge  of 
this  ceremonial,  whose  acceptance  and  willing  ser- 
vice were  highly  appreciated  by  the  citizens  and 
invited  guests.  Weather  conditions  were  most 
favorable,  and  when  at  2.30  P.M.  the  representa- 
tives of  the  Grand  Lodge,  consisting  of  Most 
Worshipful  Grand  Master  Baalis  Sanford  and  fif- 
teen associates,  escorted  by  the  local  lodge  and  led 
by  the  Pulaski  Cornet  Band  of  Webster,  reached  the 
site  of  the  building,  they  were  welcomed  by  a  con- 
course whose  number  and  enthusiasm  were  in  keep- 
ing with  the  significance  of  the  occasion. 

The  exercises  were  opened  by  the  following 
hymn  sung  by  the  Worcester  Masonic  Quartet :  — 

Great  Architect  of  earth  and  heaven, 

By  time  nor  space  confined, 
Enlarge  our  love  to  comprehend 

Our  brethren,  all  mankind. 

Where'er  we  are,  whate'er  we  do, 

Thy  presence  let  us  own  ; 
Thine  eye,  all-seeing,  marks  our  deeds, 

To  Thee  all  thoughts  are  known, 

41 


While  Nature's  works  and  Science's  laws 

We  labor  to  reveal, 
Oh!  be  our  duty  done  to  Thee 

With  fervency  and  zeal. 

With  FAITH  our  guide,  and  humble  HOPE, 

Warm  CHARITY  and  LOVE, 
May  all,  at  last,  be  raised  to  share 

Thy  perfect  light  above. 

The  formal  request  for  the  service  of  the  order 
was  extended  by  the  Chairman  of  the  Building 
Committee  in  these  words  : 

Most    Worshipful    Grand    Master,    Guests    and 
Friends : 

A  former  resident  of  this  historic  town,  actuated 
by  a  sentiment  of  filial  gratitude  and  regard  for  the 
well-being  of  the  people  of  his  early  home,  is  erect- 
ing upon  this  spot  a  permanent  abode  for  an  insti- 
tution which  is  typical  of  New  England  community 
life  in  the  twentieth  century. 

It  means  much  to  us,  it  is  even  more  significant 
to  the  nation,  the  corner-stone  of  whose  fabric  rests 
upon  the  intelligence  of  the  masses  and  whose  insti- 
tutions open  up  the  avenues  of  wealth  to  the  private 
citizen,  native  and  foreign  born  alike,  at  the  same 
time  prompting  the  consecration  of  wealth  to  no- 
blest uses. 

We  are  here  to-day  publicly  to  inaugurate  the 
enterprise  so  auspiciously  begun  ;  and  in  recognition 
of  your  ancient  and  honorable  order,  whose  tradi- 
tions are  linked  with  some  of  the  most  notable 
structures  of  the  Old  and  New  Worlds,  past  and 
present,  we  have  invited  you,  sir,  and  your  asso- 
ciates, as  representatives  of  that  order,  to  come  hither 
and,  in  the  presence  of  an  appreciative  public  in 

42 


whose  interest  the  work  is  done,  to  officiate,  accord- 
ing to  established  forms,  in  laying  the  corner-stone 
of  the 

CHARLES  LARNED  MEMORIAL, 
the  permanent  home  of  the 

FREE  PUBLIC  LIBRARY  OF  OXFORD. 

The  response  of  the  Grand  Master  was  as  fol- 
lows : 

Mr.  Chairman  and  Brethren : 

From  time  immemorial  it  has  been  the  custom  of 
the  Ancient  and  Honorable  Fraternity  of  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  when  requested  so  to  do,  to 
lay,  with  ancient  forms,  the  corner-stones  of  build- 
ings, both  public  and  private,  devoted  to  learning, 
to  benevolence,  to  religion,  and  for  the  purposes  of 
the  administration  of  justice  and  free  government 
and  the  commemoration  of  great  and  humane  bene- 
factions to  mankind. 

And  we  are  assembled  here  to-day  to  lay  this 
corner-stone  in  accordance  with  our  law  ;  and  thus  re- 
newedly  testifying  our  reverence  and  love  for  Him 
whom  we  worship  as  the  Giver  and  Guardian  of  our 
souls,  and  our  respect,  loyalty,  and  allegiance  to  the 
laws  of  our  country,  we  shall  proceed  in  accordance 
with  ancient  usage. 

Let  us  first  give  our  attention  to  the  contempla- 
tion of  a  lesson  from  the  "  Book  of  the  Law,"  and 
in  accordance  with  the  usual  Masonic  custom  at 
the  commencement  of  every  undertaking  unite  with 
our  Reverend  Grand  Chaplain  in  an  invocation  to 
the  Great  Architect  of  worlds,  that  his  mercy  and 
favor  may  be  with  us,  and  with  the  whole  brother- 
hood of  man. 


43 


The  following  selections  with  responses  by  the 
brethren  were  then  read  by  Rev.  Albert  Tyler,  Chap- 
lain of  the  Oxford  Lodge  :  — 

CHAPLAIN.  Bless  the  Lord,  0  my  soul.  0  Lord 
my  God,  thou  art  very  great ;  thou  art  clothed  with 
honor  and  majesty.  Psalm  civ.  1. 

BRETHREN.  But  thou,  0  Lord,  shalt  endure  for 
ever ;  and  thy  remembrance  unto  all  generations. 
Psalm  cii.  12. 

CHAPLAIN.  Thou  shalt  arise,  and  have  mercy 
upon  Zion :  for  the  time  to  favor  her,  yea,  the  set 
time,  is  come.  Psalm  cii.  13. 

BRETHREN.  For  thy  servants  take  pleasure  in 
her  stones,  and  favor  the  dust  thereof.  Psalm 
cii.  14. 

CHAPLAIN.  Where  wast  thou  when  I  laid  the 
foundations  of  the  earth?  declare,  if  thou  hast 
understanding.  Job  xxxviii.  4. 

BRETHREN.  Who  hath  laid  the  measures  thereof, 
if  thou  knowest?  or  who  hath  stretched  the  line 
upon  it?  Job  xxxviii.  5. 

CHAPLAIN.  Whereupon  are  the  foundations 
thereof  fastened?  or  who  laid  the  corner-stone 
thereof?  Job  xxxviii.  6. 

BRETHREN.  When  the  morning  stars  sang  to- 
gether, and  all  the  sons  of  God  shouted  for  joy  ? 
Job  xxxviii.  7. 

CHAPLAIN.  Is  it  time  for  you,  0  ye,  to  dwell  in 
your  ceiled  houses,  and  this  house  lie  waste  ?  Thus 
saith  the  Lord  of  hosts :  Go  up  to  the  mountain, 
and  bring  wood,  and  build  the  house;  and  I  will 

44 


take  pleasure  in  it,  and  I  will  be  glorified,  saith  the 
Lord.  Hag  gal  i.  4,  7,  8. 

BRETHREN.  Ye  also,  as  lively  stones,  are  built 
up  a  spiritual  house,  an  holy  priesthood,  to  offer  up 
spiritual  sacrifices  acceptable  to  God.  1  Peter  ii.  5. 

CHAPLAIN.  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God, 
Behold,  I  lay  in  Zion  for  a  foundation  a  stone,  a 
tried  stone,  a  precious  corner-stone,  a  sure  founda- 
tion :  he  that  believeth  shall  not  make  haste.  Judg- 
ment also  will  I  lay  to  the  line  and  righteousness  to 
the  plummet.  Isaiah  xxviii.  16,  17. 

BRETHREN.  Open  to  me  the  gates  of  righteous- 
ness :  I  will  go  into  them,  and  I  will  praise  the 
Lord.  Psalm  cxviii.  19. 

Honor  and  majesty  are  before  him,  strength  and 
beauty  are  in  his  sanctuary.  Psalm  xcvi.  6. 

CHAPLAIN.  Except  the  Lord  build  the  house, 
they  labor  in  vain  that  build  it :  except  the  Lord 
keep  the  city,  the  watchman  waketh  but  in  vain. 
Psalm  cxxvii.  1. 

BRETHREN.  One  generation  shall  praise  thy 
works  to  another,  and  shall  declare  thy  mighty 
acts.  They  shall  abundantly  utter  the  memory  of 
thy  great  goodness,  and  shall  sing  of  thy  righteous- 
ness. Psalm  cxlv.  4,  7. 

CHAPLAIN.  0  come,  let  us  worship  and  bow 
down  :  let  us  kneel  before  the  Lord  our  Maker. 
Psalm  xcv.  6. 

BRETHREN.  For  he  is  our  God ;  and  we  are  the 
people  of  his  pasture,  and  the  sheep  of  his  hand. 
Psalm  xcv.  7. 

CHAPLAIN.     Sing  unto  the  Lord,  bless  his  name ; 

45 


show  forth  his  salvation  from  day  to  day.  Psalm 
xcvi.  2. 

BRETHREN.  All  thy  works  shall  praise  thee,  0 
Lord;  and  thy  saints  shall  bless  thee.  Psalm 
cxlv.  10. 

Yea,  they  shall  sing  in  the  ways  of  the  Lord :  for 
great  is  the  glory  of  the  Lord.  Psalm  cxxxviii.  5. 

Prayer  was  offered  by  the  Grand  Chaplain,  Rev. 
Charles  A.  Skinner,  after  which  a  list  of  articles 
deposited  in  the  copper  receptacle  enclosed  in  the 
corner-stone  was  read  by  the  Grand  Treasurer, 
Henry  G.  Fay,  as  follows :  — 


1.  Documentary  History  of  the  Charles  Larned  Memorial. 

2.  Sealed    Package   from   Mr.    Larned,   the   Donor   of   the 
Building. 

3.  A  Copy  of  the  Town  Eeport  for  1890,  containing  a  His- 
tory of  the  Free  Public  Library. 

4.  Catalogue  of  the  Free  Public  Library  — 1895. 

5.  Daniels'  "  History  of  Oxford." 

ti.  Freeland's  "  Kecords  of  Oxford." 

7.  The  Assessors'  Keport  for  1902. 

8.  Town  Keport  for  1903,  with  the  Present  Board  of  Select- 
men and  the  Building  Committee. 

9.  Oxford  and  Auburn  Directory  — 1903. 

10.  Copy  of  The  Mid-Weekly  for  Wednesday,  11  August,  1897. 

11.  History  of  Masonry  in  Oxford  from  1795  to  1903. 

12.  Collection   of  Forty   or  Fifty   Photographs   and   Local 
Views   in   Oxford,  including  a  View  of   the  Foundations  of 
this  Building. 

13.  Miscellaneous  Local  Documents,  Business  Cards,  etc. 

14.  The  McKinley  Memorial. 

15.  Copies    of    the     St.   Louis    Globe-Democrat    and    the    St. 
Louis  Republic,    containing   an   account    of    the    Inauguration 
Ceremonies  of  "  The  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition." 


46 


16.  A  Set  of  Silver  and  Minor  Proof  Coins  for  1903,  from 
the  United  States  Mint  at  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

17.  Specimens   of  Fractional   Currency   issued    during   the 
War  of  the  Kebellion. 

18.  Copies  of  The   Worcester  Telegram  and  The  Worcester  Spy 
for  20  May,  1903. 

The  corner-stone  in  place,  the  imposing  ritual 
was  continued  by  the  Application  of  the  Jewels,  the 
Libation  of  Corn  by  the  Deputy  Grand  Master, 
J.  Gilman  Waite, — 

When  once  of  old  in  Israel, 

Our  earthly  brethren  wrought  with  toil, 

Jehovah's  blessing  on  them  fell 

In  showers  of  Corn,  and  Wine,  and  Oil. — 

the  Libation  of  Wine  by  the  Senior  Grand  Warden, 
John  A.  McKim, — 

When  there  a  shrine  to  Him  alone 
They  built,  with  worship,  sin  to  foil, 

On  threshold  and  on  corner-stone, 

They  poured  out  Corn,  and  Wine,  and  Oil.— 

the  Libation  of  Oil  by  the  Junior  Grand  Warden, 
William  H.  H.  Soule,  — 

And  we  have  come,  fraternal  bands, 

With  joy  and  pride,  and  prosperous  spoil, 

To  honor  Him  by  votive  hands 

With  streams  of  Corn,  and  Wine,  and  Oil. — 

an  Invocation  by  the  Grand  Chaplain,  the  Presen- 
tation of  Working  Tools  to  the  Architect,  and  the 
closing  address  by  the  Grand  Master  :  — 

47 


May  this  undertaking  be  conducted  and  com- 
pleted by  the  craftsmen  according  to  the  grand 
plan  in  Peace,  Harmony,  and  Brotherly  Love ;  and 
by  the  skill  and  taste  of  the  architect  may  an  edifice 
here  arise  which  shall  render  new  service  and  honor 
to  this  ancient  town. 

May  it  be  blessed  with  Wisdom  in  the  plan, 
Strength  in  the  execution,  Beauty  in  the  adorn- 
ment ;  and  may  the  Sun  of  Righteousness  enlighten 
those  who  build,  the  generous  Donor,  and  the  com- 
munity for  whose  benefit  this  structure  shall  be 
erected. 

Proclamation  was  duly  made  by  the  Grand  Mar- 
shal Frank  W.  Mead,  and  after  the  singing  of  the 
hymn,— 

Lord!  Thou  hast  been  our  dwelling-place, 
Through  years  of  old  and  ages  past; 

And  still  Thy  laws  we  seek  to  trace. 
On  Thee  our  trust  we  humbly  cast, 

Father  of  Light !     Builder  Divine ! 

Behold  our  work,  and  make  it  Thine, — 

the  address  of  the  day  was  delivered  by  Rev. 
William  H.  Rider,  D.D.,  of  Gloucester,  Mass. 

As  this  address  by  force  of  circumstances  was 
largely  impromptu,  it  cannot  be  reproduced,  but  was 
listened  to  with  close  attention  and  deep  interest. 

The  flowering  beauty  of  the  opening  spring-time 
suggested  to  the  speaker  the  more  beautiful  sen- 
timent of  maternal  and  filial  love  from  which 
emanated  this  project  and  this  occasion.  By  a 
natural  transition  it  was  declared  most  fitting  that 
a  fraternity  seeking  light  and  "More  Light,"  thus 

48 


leading  to  the  Source  of  all  knowledge,  should  par- 
ticipate in  the  consecration  of  a  building  sacred  to 
tender  memories  and  all  best  thought  and  life. 

Familiar  as  is  the  dedication  of  libraries  in  New 
England,  we  shah1  never  see  too  many  of  them. 

The  victories  of  the  twentieth  century  are  to 
be  intellectual,  victories  of  science  and  education. 
The  war-drums  are  muffled,  and  a  new  song,  the 
song  of  peace  and  good  wiU  to  men,  is  heard  in 
the  land.  The  prophecy  of  this  peace  is  to  be 
fulfilled  by  just  such  buildings  as  this. 

There  is  nothing  to  be  compared  with  the  lasting 
effects  of  a  public  library  in  a  community.  It  is 
the  privilege  of  everybody  in  such  community  to 
keep  company  with  the  ages. 

Not  one  of  ah1  the  marvelous  things  that  have 
come  to  us  through  modern  improvements — the 
trolley  car,  the  electric  light,  the  telephone,  the 
telegraph — is  to  be  compared  in  real  value  to  a 
good  book.  It  transformed  Abraham  Lincoln  from 
an  ignorant  boy  into  the  First  American. 

Books  are  light-houses  erected  in  the  great  sea  of 
time.  He  who  gives,  gives  also  guides  for  finest 
conduct  and  inspires  with  greatest  hope. 

In  conclusion,  the  speaker  made  among  other 
practical  suggestions  this  excellent  recommendation, 
that  the  library  which  was  to  be  here  installed 
should  be  made  complete  in  some  one  line,  be  it  a 
department  of  history,  of  science,  or  of  literature,  so 
that  it  should  be  known  far  and  wide  as  possessing 
an  exceptionally  rich,  if  not  exhaustive,  collection  in 
that  special  department. 

The  singing  of    "America"  by  the  assemblage 

49 


and  the  benediction  pronounced  by  the  Grand 
Chaplain  concluded  the  exercises  of  a  day  memo- 
rable in  the  history  of  the  town. 

In  response  to  the  following  invitation,  at  the 
hour  appointed  the  auditorium  of  Memorial  Hall 
was  filled  with  an  expectant  assemblage  made  up 
of  present  and  former  residents  of  Oxford,  invited 
guests  from  all  parts  of  Massachusetts  and  neigh- 
boring States,  including  names  prominent  in  literary, 
professional,  and  public  life. 


50 


DEDICATION. 

Sty* 

irirtratum 
oftfy* 


CI3MHAJ    WOSWiaOH   A88IHAJQ 

in  mntuirg  of  (Elartaaa  Subtamm 
ntdoH  arnfin 

tii  the  uar  of  th? 


-  -  f 


bill  take 


an  W^nwbag,  5  ©rtnbrr,  l^J/J^rftt  1:30  n'rlork  p 


moil 


bnelloH 
Joiiu  £.  Kimball   1 

Alfrri*  4fl.  Olljaff^  J 

51 


Cfiummtttfr. 


9  Februar 


LARNED 


Vermont 


29  April,  1817,  Jo 


1    May. 


Massachusetts 


thr 
Charles,6  Elijah, s  Benjamin^  Peter,^  Isaac,2 

from 

Rev.  John'  Robinson,  of  Leyden 
Holland 


DEDICATION. 

Op 

irttiralum 
of  % 


—  Sn  mcmarji  of  (Clarissa  ihifaiusnn  Earned  -- 

to  thr  uflF  of  th^ 


tr  ffitbrarg 


httll  takr  plarr  at 


on  M^bnwbag,  5  ®rtob^r,  19fl4,  at  1:30  o'rlork  p.  m. 

bg  ^0tu  Qlarrnll  i.  Wrt 
of  gour 


JoJyn  IE.  IKtmhaU 

„     _ 

®rrtn  Iff.  Jofilin 


(fiummtttcr. 

i«J. 


51 


,  1004. 
invocation. 

VOCAL  Music,  "Jehovah  Reigns."  Mendelssohn. 

DOUBLE  QUARTET. 

Untrotwctors. 
IResponses* 

"HoN.  IRA  M.  BARTON,  Founder  of  the  Free  Public  Library." 
EDMUND  M.   BARTON,  American  Antiquarian  Society. 

"PUBLIC  LIBRARIES  IN  MASSACHUSETTS." 

C.   B.  TlLLINGHAST,   Chairman  of  Free  Public  Library  Commission  of 

Massachusetts. 

"THE  PUBLIC  LIBRARY  AS  A  PUBLIC  EDUCATOR." 

SAMUEL  S.  GREEN,  Free  Public  Library  of  Worcester. 

"THE  ROBINSON  FAMILY." 

HON.    DAVID    I.    ROBINSON,     President  of  the  Robinson  Family  Genealogical 
and  Historical  Association. 

VOCAL  Music,  "The  Old  Arm-chair,"  Eliza  Cook,  music  by  Henry  Russell. 
OXFORD  MALE  QUARTET. 


Delivery  ot  2>eefc  ant) 

To  TOWN  AUTHORITIES  —  To  TRUSTEES  OF  LIBRARY. 

Dedicators  prayer* 

REV.  CHARLES  M.  CARPENTER. 

Hfcfcress. 

HON.  CARROLL  D.  WRIGHT. 

SINGING,  "America." 
The  AUDIENCE,  led  by  the  QUARTET. 

Benediction. 

52 


The  exercises  conformed  to  the  above  program, 
John  E.  Kimball,  Esq.,  Chairman  of  the  Building 
Committee  presiding. 

CHAIRMAN:  The  divine  blessing  will  be  invoked 
by  Rev.  I.  A.  Mesler,  of  Oxford. 

INVOCATION. 

We  are  very  grateful,  our  Heavenly  Father,  for 
that  which  brings  us  together  to-day.  We  recog- 
nize the  fact  that  every  good  gift  and  every  perfect 
gift  cometh  from  thee.  We  pray  for  thy  blessing 
upon  it.  We  pray  for  thy  blessing  upon  all  the  ex- 
ercises of  this  day.  May  the  Holy  Spirit  rest  upon 
those  who  shall  speak  to  us,  and  guide  in  every 
thought  and  every  word  !  In  Jesus'  name  we  ask  it. 
Amen. 

SINGING. 

Jehovah  Reigns. 

CHAIRMAN  : 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen, —  In  behalf  of  the 
Building  Committee  of  the  Charles  Lamed  Memo- 
rial I  extend  to  you  a  cordial  welcome  and  thanks 
for  the  interest  manifested  by  your  presence. 
There  are  scores,  perhaps  hundreds,  who  would  like 
to  be  here,  but  cannot,  and  I  am  constrained  to 
read,  in  their  behalf,  a  sample  letter  of  regret  expres- 
sive of  the  sentiments  of  those  who,  from  age  or 
infirmity,  distance,  or  other  engagements  can  be 
with  us  to-day  only  in  spirit :  — 

53 


I  am  very  grateful  for  the  invitation  so  kindly 
sent  me  the  25th  to  attend  the  exercises  in  Memo- 
rial Hall  October  5,  and  regret  that  I  cannot  be 
present  at  that  time.  Certainly,  my  native  town  is 
to  be  congratulated  that  the  generosity  of  her  pub- 
lic-spirited son — Mr.  Charles  Larned  —  has  taken 
such  a  beautiful  form,  one  which  not  only  adds  at- 
traction to  her  main  street,  but  which  will  furnish 
her  residents  pleasure  and  profit  so  long  as  the 
memorial  shah1  stand.  May  it  be  a  "joy  forever!" 

It  was  a  happy  thought  of  Mr.  Larned  to  asso- 
ciate his  mother's  name  with  the  building,  and  I  trust 
this  silent  witness  of  a  son's  filial  love  and  respect 
will  be  a  lesson  to  all  the  young  people  who  fre- 
quent the  Library,  and  be  an  aid  in  making  them 
also  noble  sons  and  daughters. 

Friends,  we  have  met  to  dedicate  to  public  uses 
a  building  typical  of  what  is  best  in  New  England 
civilization, —  filial  reverence  and  gratitude,  intelli- 
gence and  character  in  the  masses,  and  public  spirit, 
which  is  but  another  name  for  patriotism. 

It  is  not  for  us  to  know  what  tender  memories 
and  cherished  associations  are  built  into  this  me- 
morial temple,  imparting  a  touch  of  peculiar  grace  to 
this  happy  combination  of  utility  and  beauty.  That 
belongs  to  the  sacred  privacy  of  the  domestic  circle, 
which  we  may  not  invade;  but  we  do  know  the 
value  of  such  sentiments  in  molding  character  and 
shaping  destiny,  not  alone  of  individuals,  but  of 
nations;  we  do  know  that  loyalty  in  the  home 
begets  loyalty  to  the  State,  the  logical  outcome  of 
which  is  individual  and  social  betterment. 

This  simple  ceremonial  may  fade  from  the  mem- 

54 


ory  and  be  forgotten ;  methods  and  usages  will 
change,  grow  old,  and  be  superseded  by  that  which 
is  better,  but  the  lessons  of  yonder  structure  will 
deepen  with  the  years,  they  can  never  become  obso- 
lete, for  they  are  vital  to  our  continuance  as  a  people, 
and,  happily,  in  their  very  nature  are  self -perpetu- 
ating. 

The  conditions  which  render  this  gift  timely  and 
most  acceptable  are  the  growth  of  more  than  a  gen- 
eration. A  flourishing  Free  Public  Library  has  long 
been  the  protege  and  pride  of  the  people.  Oxford 
has  been  fortunate  in  her  benefactors !  We  con- 
gratulate the  recipients  of  Mr.  Carnegie's  bounty, 
and  ah1  honor  to  that  broad  philanthropy  which  has 
given  us  a  new  lesson  in  the  uses  of  great  wealth, 
while  doing  so  much  to  cement  the  brotherhood 
of  the  nations  !  But  we  count  ourselves  more  fortu- 
nate. Our  benefactors  are  "to  the  manner  born" 
and  bred  among  us,  and  their  benefactions  are  evi- 
dence not  only  of  successful  endeavor  and  generous 
impulses,  but  of  affection  and  gratitude  as  well. 
Especially  is  this  true  of  the  honored  Founder  of 
our  Free  Public  Library,  who  in  his  will  remem- 
bered the  inhabitants  of  his  native  town  by  a  gift 
for  that  purpose  "as  an  inadequate  return  for  the 
kindness  and  patronage  of  their  fathers"  and  it 
will  be  a  special  pleasure  to  hear  a  word  from  the 
representative  of  Hon.  Ira  M.  Barton  in  the  person 
of  his  son,  Edmund  M.  Barton,  of  Worcester. 


55 


Mr.  BARTON: 

Mr.  Chairman, —  My  duty  is  strictly  filial,  it 
seems  to  me,  to-day.  On  beautiful  Oxford  plain 
there  were  born  into  the  family  of  which  my 
honored  father  was  the  head  four  sons  and  one 
daughter ;  while  Worcester  was  the  birthplace  of 
three  sons  and  one  daughter.  Among  the  papers  of 
the  first-born — William  Sumner  Barton,  born  in 
Oxford,  Sept.  30,  1824— is  a  brief  sketch  of  the 
founder  of  this  library,  to  which  T  call  your  atten- 
tion during  the  few  moments  allowed  me. 

The  Hon.  Ira  Moore  Barton,  of  Worcester,  first 
named  Ira,  was  born  in  Oxford,  Oct.  25,  1796,  and 
in  1839,  by  act  of  the  General  Court,  was  authorized 
to  take  the  additional  name  of  Moore  in  memory  of 
his  revered  maternal  grandmother,  Dorothy  Moore, 
and  of  his  great-great-grandfather  Moore,  the  first 
magistrate  of  his  native  town.  He  was  a  grandson 
of  Dr.  Stephen  Barton,  who  was  born  at  Sutton, 
June  10,  1740.  Dr.  Barton's  father  and  mother, 
Edmund  and  Anna  Flynt  Barton,  were  married  in 
Salem,  April  9,  1739,  and  probably  moved  to  Sutton 
soon  afterward.  Mr.  Barton  graduated  with  high 
honors  at  Brown  University  in  1819,  and  at  the 
Cambridge  Law  School  in  1822.  He  practised  law 
in  Oxford  from  1822  to  1834,  and  was  representa- 
tive from  that  town  during  the  years  1830  to  1832, 
inclusive.  In  1833-34  he  represented  the  county 
of  Worcester  in  the  State  Senate.  He  removed  to 
Worcester  in  1834,  and  in  1836  was  appointed  by 
Governor  Everett  judge  of  probate  for  Worcester 
County.  In  1840  he  was  chosen  one  of  the  electors 

56 


for  President  in  the  famous  Harrison  or  log-cabin 
campaign.  He  resigned  his  judgeship  in  1844,  and 
in  1846  represented  the  then  town  of  Worcester  in 
the  legislature.  Judge  Barton  continued  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  until  1849,  when  he  visited 
Europe  in  pursuit  of  much-needed  rest  and  recrea- 
tion. Upon  his  return  in  1850  he  resumed  his 
office  practice  only,  finding  leisure  during  the  inter- 
vals of  business  for  the  indulgence  of  his  literary, 
historical,  and  antiquarian  tastes.  He  was  an  active 
member  and  for  many  years  a  councilor  of  the 
American  Antiquarian  Society.  He  died  very  sud- 
denly at  his  home  in  Worcester,  July  18,  1867. 

I  submit  also  the  f oUowing  character  picture  by 
one  who  knew  him  intimately  :  "  Judge  Barton  was 
distinguished  for  purity,  simplicity,  and  integrity  of 
character ;  and  as  a  public  servant,  in  numerous 
offices  of  trust  and  responsibility,  his  conduct  was 
marked  by  signal  ability,  fidelity,  and  success.  He 
was  eminently  the  accomplished  lawyer,  the  upright 
magistrate,  the  enlightened  patriotic  citizen;  and 
the  community  which,  through  a  long  and  busy  life, 
he  has  benefited  and  honored,  will  hold  in  grateful 
remembrance  his  services  and  his  virtues.  He  has 
been  described  as  a  man  of  very  striking  personal 
appearance,  with  tall  and  commanding  figure,  fine 
head  and  Websterian  eyes.  He  showed  something 
of  the  Roman  mould  in  his  aspect,  which  was  well 
reflected  in  his  character." 

The  tributes  paid  by  Mr.  George  F.  Daniels  in 
his  History  of  Oxford  and  by  Samuel  Foster  Haven, 
LL.D.,  in  his  Report  of  the  Council  of  the  American 

57 


Antiquarian  Society,  read  Oct.  21,  1867,  may  well 
be  had  in  remembrance. 

While  this  beautiful  memorial  appeals  strongly 
to  the  gratitude  of  all,  the  surviving  children  of 
the  founder  may  lay  claim  to  a  special  cause  for 
thankfulness  to  the  wise  and  generous  giver. 

CHAIRMAN  :  The  Free  Public  Library  Commis- 
sion has  achieved  an  enviable  reputation  in  placing 
Massachusetts  in  the  forefront  of  States  on  either 
side  of  the  Atlantic  in  free  library  facilities  for  the 
people.  We  hoped  to  listen  to  its  chairman  to-day, 
but  instead  the  following  letter  comes  to  hand  this 
morning :  — 

FREE  PUBLIC  LIBRARY  COMMISSION 

OF 
MASSACHUSETTS. 

Oct.  4,  1904. 

JOHN  E.  KIMBALL,  Esq.,  Chairman,  etc. : 

My  dear  Mr.  Kimball, —  Though  it  will  be  im- 
practicable for  me  to  accept  your  kind  invitation  to 
participate  in  the  dedicatory  services  of  the  Charles 
Larned  Memorial,  I  wish  to  express  through  you 
my  appreciation  of  the  gift  which  has  come  to  your 
people  and  which  enriches  the  Commonwealth. 

I  have  known  something  of  the  sweet  spirit  the 
giver  has  shown  in  his  desire  to  provide  a  building 
which  shah1  be  a  source  of  inspiration  and  pride  to 
the  present  and  future  citizens  of  his  native  town. 

Similar  gifts  are  not  uncommon  in  Massachusetts. 
They  bear  witness  to  the  growing  sentiment  that 
the  library,  supplementing  the  public  school,  adds 

58 


to  the  pleasures  and  refinement  of  the  home,  the 
happiness  and  prosperity  of  the  people,  and  the 
civic  virtues  which  insure  good  citizenship  and  pure 
government. 

All  honor  to  Mr.  Larned,  a  modest  and  philan- 
thropic citizen,  who,  from  the  results  of  a  lifetime 
of  mercantile  honor  and  thrift,  provides  a  chaste, 
beautiful,  and  permanent  home  for  the  literary  treas- 
ures that  tend  to  perpetuate  and  increase  the  wis- 
dom and  intelligence  which  are  the  heritage  of  New 
England  culture. 

Yours  most  cordially, 

C.  B.  TlLLINGHAST, 

Chairman, 
Free  Public  Library  Commission. 

Fortunately,  however,  we  have  another  represen- 
tative of  the  Commission  in  our  neighbor  of  the 
Free  Public  Library  of  Worcester.  He  can  tell  us 
all  about  Libraries  and  the  Library  Commission,  for, 
wherever  they  are  in  evidence,  we  are  quite  sure  to 
see  or  hear  the  name  of,  Samuel  S.  Green. 

MR.  GREEN  : 

Mr.  President,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen, —  It  is 
my  first  duty  and  my  pleasure  to  greet  you  in  be- 
half of  the  libraries  of  the  Commonwealth.  In 
1890,  when  the  Free  Public  Library  Commission 
was  established,  the  record  of  Massachusetts  had 
been  most  honorable  when  compared  with  that  of 
any  other  State.  But  still  there  were  one  hundred 
and  three  towns  which  at  that  time  had  no  public 
library.  I  am  able  to  say  to  you  to-day  that  there 


is  not  remaining  in  this  State  a  single  town  that 
has  not  a  public  library.  All  these  towns  sym- 
pathize with  you  to-day  as  you  come  here  to  dedi- 
cate this  beautiful  and  convenient  building,  for 
which  you  are  indebted  to  the  munificence  of  the 
venerable  gentleman  who  sits  here  upon  the  plat- 
form. In  the  name  of  the  Public  Library  Commis- 
sion of  the  Commonwealth,  in  behalf  of  the  libraries 
of  this  State,  in  behalf  of  its  whole  people,  I  thank 
him  for  what  Mr.  Tillinghast  says  he  has  done, — 
"  enriching  the  Commonwealth." 

I  must  also  greet  you,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  in 
behalf  of  the  library  of  the  principal  town  in  this 
county.  Please  accept  of  the  hospitalities  of  the 
Free  Public  Library  of  Worcester,  and  I  will  add 
with  Mr.  Barton,  the  librarian,  and  Colonel  Wright, 
a  member  of  the  Council,  that  I  also,  as  a  member 
of  the  Council,  extend  to  you  a  cordial  welcome  to 
use  the  library  of  the  American  Antiquarian  Society. 

You  have  asked  me,  Mr.  President,  to  speak  upon 
public  libraries  as  educational  institutions.  It  is  not 
only  in  their  connections  with  colleges  and  schools 
that  libraries  exert  an  educational  influence.  I  sup- 
pose, when  I  speak  of  them  as  instruments  of  value 
in  connection  with  formal  educational  institutions, 
you  wish  me  to  speak  mainly  of  their  usefulness  to 
the  public  schools,  even  though  this  town  has  the 
name  of  one  of  the  great  universities  of  the  world. 
But  a  word  before  I  do  this.  This  is  a  town  of 
farms.  Is  it  not  true  that  the  best  farmers 
here  are  those  who  attend  institutes,  read  agricult- 
ural papers,  and  make  themselves  conversant  with 

60 


agricultural  literature?  What  are  you  doing  when 
you  do  this  thing?  Why,  you  are  simply  educating 
yourselves  by  adding  to  your  own  experience  as 
farmers  and  to  the  results  of  experience  which  has 
been  given  to  you  by  your  fathers  and  neighbors 
the  experience  of  other  men  engaged  in  similar 
pursuits  as  recorded  in  books, — the  experience  often 
of  men  who  have  had  rare  opportunities  for  experi- 
ment and  investigation,  and  the  results  of  whose 
researches  it  is  of  the  greatest  value  for  you  to 
become  acquainted  with.  What  an  educational  in- 
fluence, then,  Mr.  President,  may  a  library  exert  in 
a  town  if  the  farmers  of  the  town  read  papers  and 
magazines,  United  States  and  Massachusetts  Agri- 
cultural Reports,  and  books  treating  of  the  various 
departments  of  agriculture!  What  a  blessing  a 
library  may  be  if  the  people  use  this  kind  of  books, 
and  if  they  are  provided  for  them  in  sufficient  num- 
bers in  the  town! 

There  is  manufacturing  in  Oxford.  Suppose  for 
an  instant  that  everybody  connected  with  a  large 
shop — the  proprietor,  the  manager,  the  foreman,  and 
the  workmen — were  all  readers ;  suppose  they  made 
it,  all  of  them,  their  business  to  become  acquainted 
with  the  principles  of  science  which  underlie  the 
processes  which  they  are  engaged  in  performing 
every  day ;  supposing  they  paid  especial  attention 
to  the  literature  of  the  particular  occupation  in  which 
they  are  engaged, — can  you  doubt  for  an  instant 
that  the  products  of  that  shop  would  be  better  or 
that  instructed  managers  and  informed  workmen 
would  do  better  work,  that  there  would  be  more  in- 

61 


ventions,  and  that  the  value  of  the  work  of  all  would 
be  so  much  increased  that  higher  wages  and  salaries 
would  be  commanded? 

But,  Mr.  President,  I  suppose  that  you  wish  me  to 
speak  especially  of  the  connection  of  libraries  with 
public  schools.  Supposing  a  library  affords  especial 
privileges  to  teachers,  allows  them  to  take  a  con- 
siderable number  of  books  which  they  may  need  in 
preparing  themselves  for  school  exercises ;  supposing 
the  teacher  is  allowed  to  take  a  still  larger  number 
of  books  to  be  used  in  any  way  he  pleases  for  the 
benefit  of  the  scholars — do  you  not  see  at  once  that 
those  teachers  and  scholars  have  a  great  advantage 
over  such  as  do  not  have  such  privileges?  How 
much  more  interesting  and  profitable  a  teacher  can 
make  his  work  if  he  can  have  accessible  a  large  libra- 
ry of  books,  and  be  able  to  take  to  the  school-room 
and  to  his  home  a  considerable  number  to  use  in 
connection  with  the  work  in  hand  !  How  much  more 
interesting  it  is  to  a  scholar  to  be  allowed,  when  he 
is  studying  upon  any  subject,  to  read  graphic  and 
interesting  accounts  of  that  subject  to  add  to  the 
interest  which  comes  from  a  dry  paragraph  in  a  text- 
book alluding  to  the  subject !  Why,  ladies  and 
gentlemen,  you  can  often  make  study  fascinating  to 
children  if  you  point  out  to  them  sources  of  infor- 
mation where,  in  an  interesting  way  and  with  a  pro- 
fusion of  details,  matters  treated  of  briefly  in  their 
text-books  are  treated  of  at  length  and  in  a  clear  and 
agreeable  style  in  larger  books  accessible  to  them  in 
public  libraries. 

But  there  is  another  feature.     Suppose  a  teacher 

62 


is  allowed  to  take  a  large  number  of  books  from  a 
public  library,  display  them  in  the  school-room,  and 
allow  the  scholars  to  rummage  freely  among  them 
and  select  such  as  they  like  to  take  home  to  read, 
care  having  been  taken  by  the  teacher  to  acquaint 
himself  with  the  best  literature  for  children,  and 
opportunities  being  afforded  him  to  consult  with 
the  librarian,  who,  it  may  be,  has  a  large  knowledge 
of  children's  literature;  suppose  a  teacher  to  be 
thus  situated,  to  have  interest  enough  to  inform 
himself  in  regard  to  what  are  really  the  good  books 
for  children,  and  ample  opportunities  in  the  library 
to  obtain  those  books  and  place  them  before  the 
children ;  suppose  that  work  of  the  kind  men- 
tioned begins  when  the  children  are  small,  and  is 
continued  for  a  series  of  years  while  they  remain  in 
the  public  schools, —  can  you  doubt  that  a  teacher 
of  tact  will  so  interest  the  children  that  a  large  part 
of  their  leisure  time,  all  the  time  they  have  for 
reading,  will  be  taken  up  in  reading  good  books? 
And  can  you  doubt,  if  this  course  is  pursued  long 
enough  and  faithfully  enough,  that  the  taste  of  the 
children  will  improve,  and  that  you  will  find  after  a 
series  of  years  that  poor  books  are  not  attractive  to 
them? 

Mr.  President,  I  should  like  to  speak  to  you  of 
the  value  of  a  library  in  cultivating  the  imagina- 
tion and  the  moral  sense,  and  particularly  in  aiding 
in  the  cause  of  good  morals  in  the  community 
where  a  library  is  established.  I  have  no  time  to 
do  this,  sir,  but  will  hint  at  one  argument  which  I 
should  like  to  develop.  If  you  find  that  young 

63 


people  are  loafers  or  idlers  and  are  beset  with  the 
temptations  which  men  who  are  idle  are  influenced 
by, —  if  you  find  boys  and  girls  in  this  condition, 
where  the  lower  parts  of  their  nature  are  certain  to 
come  to  the  front,  what  are  you  to  do  for  them  ? 
It  is  a  cardinal  principle  in  philanthropy  that,  if  you 
would  get  rid  of  what  is  bad,  you  must  substitute 
for  it  something  that  is  interesting  and  good.  Now 
supposing  you  create  a  taste  for  reading,  you  may 
even  make  a  passion  for  reading  in  young  people. 
Supposing  you  make  it  the  pleasure  of  people  as 
they  grow  up  to  turn  when  they  have  leisure  to  read- 
ing and  study  as  a  recreation.  Can  anybody  doubt 
that  you  are  giving  them  an  immense  safeguard? 
A  philanthropist  in  Boston,  a  lady  whose  name  you 
would  recognize  as  one  of  those  who  have  been  very 
successful  in  doing  good  work  in  a  large  city,  said 
to  me,  "  When  I  find  that  a  person  whom  I  am 
trying  to  influence  has  an  interest  in  reading,  I  feel 
a  strong  hope  that  I  can  do  good  to  that  person." 
Now,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  if  your  young  people,  as 
the  result  of  a  free  use  of  books  in  school  and  in 
the  home,  can  arouse  in  themselves  a  strong  interest 
in  reading,  even  though  they  read  only  newspapers 
and  magazines  and  good  stories,  what  a  beneficent 
work  you  are  doing  in  awakening  this  interest,  and 
giving  them  an  occupation  to  which  they  turn 
spontaneously  instead  of  becoming  idle  and  gratify- 
ing the  lower  appetites  of  human  nature  ! 

Now,  Mr.  President,  I  ought  to  stop,  but  I  have 
just  come  from  the  beautiful  library  building  which 
Mr.  Lamed  has  given  you,  and  I  saw  there  a  window 

64 


which  interested  me.  I  cannot  forget  that  two 
months  ago  I  stood  on  the  spot  at  Delftshaven 
where  John  Robinson  knelt  and  blessed  the  Pilgrims, 
and  bade  them  God-speed  as  they  went  on  board  the 
vessel  to  go  first  to  England  and  then  to  America, 
to  found  in  the  Old  Colony  of  this  Commonwealth 
their  little  republic  and  become  exemplars  of  man- 
kind. A  few  days  later  I  stood  in  Leyden,  in  the 
church  where  John  Robinson  is  buried,  and  on  the 
outside  of  that  church  I  read  the  inscription  on 
the  tablet  which  has  been  placed  there  by  the 
American  lovers  and  admirers  of  John  Robinson, 
who  is  regarded  as  the  father  of  Congregationalism. 
On  a  house  opposite  the  church  I  saw  another  tablet 
which  announced  that  here  was  the  site  of  the  house 
in  which  Robinson  lived,  the  house  in  which  he 
preached, — for  he  gathered  his  congregation  about 
him  in  his  dwelling-place, — and  connected  with 
which  was  a  garden  in  which  there  were  numerous 
little  houses  in  which  a  considerable  portion  of  his 
congregation  lived.  It  was  thrilling,  Mr.  President, 
to  stand  there  amid  the  things  which  reminded  one 
of  our  Pilgrim  forefathers,  and  to  think  what  a 
work  John  Robinson,  Edward  Winslow,  William 
Bradford,  and  the  others  had  done  for  this  country 
and  the  world. 

Libraries  do  much,  sir,  in  an  educational  way  to-day 
through  pictures.  We  have  in  our  own  library  in 
Worcester  a  magnificent  collection  of  the  largest- 
sized  and  best  photographs  that  can  be  procured  in 
Europe,  illustrating  the  different  schools  of  art  and 
objects  of  interest  throughout  Europe  and  Asia. 

65 


You  have,  sir,  what  pictures  you  can  afford  to  have, 
but  whatever  others  you  get, — and  I  assure  you  that 
they  exert  a  great  educational  influence, — whatever 
others  you  get,  you  have  the  picture  of  John  Robin- 
son. A  noble  man  he  was.  I  will  not  speak  of  his 
love  of  learning,  or  of  the  University  of  Leyden, 
close  by  his  house,  of  which  he  was  a  member  and 
with  whose  professors  he  delighted  so  much  to  asso- 
ciate. I  would  rather  have  you  think  of  him  as  the 
Apostle  of  Righteousness,  as  the  man  who  was  ready 
to  sacrifice  everything  for  what  was  right,  and  I 
would  recall  to  your  minds  that  particular  feature  of 
his  righteousness  which  to  me  makes  John  Robinson 
stand  out  as  one  of  the  finest  types  of  men  to  be 
found  in  history.  He  had  an  open  mind.  He  was 
always  a  student,  and,  whenever  new  light  came  to 
him,  he  immediately,  readily,  willingly,  heartily,  gave 
up  old  views  which  he  had  found  to  be  incorrect. 

CHAIRMAN  :  Few  who  have  heard  of  the  Charles 
Lamed  Memorial  and  none  who  have  passed  its  por- 
tals have  failed  to  observe  the  prominence  of  the 
Robinson  name,  looking  out  from  its  memorial  tab- 
let and  further  suggested  by  the  illuminated  window 
over  the  entrance.  Some  years  ago  the  Robinsons 
of  America  awoke  to  the  fact  that  they  had  an 
ancestry  worth  looking  up ;  and  accordingly  an  asso- 
ciation was  organized  for  that  purpose.  The  presi- 
dent of  that  association  is  with  us  to-day,  having  come 
all  the  way  from  Gloucester  to  recognize  and  honor 
the  spirit  and  motive  of  this  occasion.  I  take  pleas- 
ure in  introducing  Hon.  David  I.  Robinson,  of 
Gloucester. 

66 


MR.  ROBINSON  : 

Mr.  Chairman, — It  is  with  extreme  pleasure  that 
I  bring  to  you  to-day  the  greetings  of  the  Robinson 
kinsfolk ;  for  the  erection  of  the  Charles  Lamed  Memo- 
rial Building  is  to  them  of  more  than  passing  interest. 

This  building  commemorates  the  name  of  one 
very  dear  to  the  heart  of  Mr.  Lamed,  for  the  one 
word  "mother"  expresses  much.  She  was  one  whose 
long  line  of  honorable  ancestry  reaches  back  to  the 
Rev.  John  Robinson,  of  Pilgrim  renown:  she  was 
a  worthy  descendant  of  a  worthy  ancestor. 

My  own  line  of  genealogy  I  am  able  to  trace  to 
Abraham  Robinson,  who  settled  at  Agassquam,  or 
Annisquam,  now  a  part  of  Gloucester,  on  Cape  Ann, 
in  1631 ;  but  here  the  link  is  broken,  and,  try  as  we 
will,  we  cannot  definitely  connect  with  the  Rev.  John 
Robinson,  although  tradition  is  wholly  on  our  side. 
"We  find  from  the  Ley  den  records  that  he  had  a  son 
Isaac  and  a  son  Jacob.  We  think,  therefore,  he  ought 
to  have  had  a  son  Abraham.  If  he  did  (and  tradition 
gives  it  as  a  fact),  then  that  son  Abraham  was  our 
ancestor,  and  the  chain  is  complete. 

A  few  weeks  ago  the  Robinson  Family  Genea- 
logical and  Historical  Association  met  at  the  historic 
spot  where  nearly  three  centuries  ago  the  flock  of 
Rev.  John  Robinson  sought  religious  freedom  on  our 
shores.  Mr.  Robinson,  you  remember,  was  pre- 
vented from  coming  with  the  colony  or  from  joining 
it  later,  on  account  of  not  obtaining  the  consent  of 
the  English  Association  which  controlled  the  enter- 
prise. He  died  before  this  consent  could  be  obtained, 
but  he  cheered  and  counseled  his  flock  until  his  death, 

67 


which  occurred  in  1625,  when  a  life  of  suffering  from 
religious  persecution,  but  of  devotion  to  the  cause 
of  religious  freedom,  was  brought  to  a  close. 

On  account  of  his  strenuous  life,  the  reverential 
devotion  of  his  followers,  his  fatherly  care  over  them, 
and  his  wise  counsel,  we  are  wont  to  think  of  the 
Rev.  John  Robinson  as  an  aged  man,  who  lived 
beyond  the  allotted  life  of  threescore  years  and  ten ; 
yet  he  died  at  the  comparatively  early  age  of  fifty 
years.  His  life  was  one  so  full  of  devotion  to  others 
and  of  self-sacrifice  as  not  to  be  measured  by  the 
flight  of  years, — a  life  which  the  boundless  ages  of 
eternity  alone  can  embrace. 

In  the  rush  and  turmoil  of  the  busy  world  of 
to-day  there  are  to  a  greater  or  less  degree  just  such 
characters,  which  stand  out  in  bold  relief, — those 
who,  forgetful  of  self  and  living  for  the  good  of 
others,  are  the  world's  benefactors,  heroes  and  hero- 
ines in  the  battle  of  life.  Every  such  a  one  is 
making  the  world  better  by  living  in  it. 

This  thought  will  call  vividly  to  mind  the  great 
life  which  has  just  come  to  a  close  in  your  neighbor- 
ing city  of  Worcester,  or  rather  which  is  just  begin- 
ning to  shine  in  the  endless  ages  of  eternity.  Sena- 
tor Hoar  belonged  to  the  state,  to  the  nation,  to  the 
world :  he  belonged  to  that  class  of  which  I  speak. 
He  lived  not  for  himself.  Wealth,  honor,  title, 
position,  were  nothing  to  him  except  as  he  could  use 
them  for  the  good  of  others.  His  life  was  a  bene- 
diction ;  his  death  a  sublime  transition. 

Monuments  do  not  make  such  men  great,  but  they 
serve  to  remind  generations  to  come  that  great  men 
have  lived. 


This  beautiful  library  building  which  to-day  the 
town  of  Oxford  receives  from  the  hand  of  Mr. 
Charles  Lamed  is  a  monument — the  best,  the  most 
enduring — in  memory  of  her  who  was  the  honored 
daughter  and  seventh  descendant  of  one  of  the  great 
characters  of  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  cen- 
turies,— the  Rev.  John  Robinson,  of  Leyden. 

SINGING. 
The  Old  Arm-chair. 

I  love  it !  I  love  it  I  and  who  shall  dare 

To  chide  me  for  loving  that  old  arm-chair? 

I've  treasured  it  long  as  a  sainted  prize, 

I've  bedewed  it  with  tears,  and  embalmed  it  with  sighs  ; 

'Tis  bound  by  a  thousand  bands  to  my  heart ; 

Not  a  tie  will  break,  not  a  link  will  start. 

Would  ye  learn  the  spell  ?  —  A  mother  sat  there  ; 

And  a  sacred  thing  is  that  old  arm-chair  ! 

In  childhood's  hour  I  lingered  near 
The  hallowed  seat,  with  listening  ear  ; 
And  gentle  words  that  mother  would  give, 
To  fit  me  to  die  and  teach  me  to  live. 
She  told  me  shame  would  never  betide  — 
With  truth  for  my  creed  and  God  for  my  guide  ; 
She  taught  me  to  lisp  my  earliest  prayer, 
As  I  knelt  beside  that  old  arm-chair. 

I  sat  and  watched  her  many  a  day, 

When  her  eye  grew  dim,  and  her  locks  were  gray  ; 

And  I  almost  worshiped  her  when  she  smiled 

And  turned  from  her  Bible  to  bless  her  child. 

Years  rolled  on,  but  the  last  one  sped  — 

My  idol  was  shattered,  my  earth-star  fled  ; 

I  learned  how  much  the  heart  can  bear, 

When  I  saw  her  die  in  that  old  arm-chair. 

69 


CHAIRMAN  :  This  Memorial  is  to  be  transferred 
to  the  town  finished  and  complete  in  all  its  details, 
therefore,  no  report  upon  the  building  itself  is 
caUed  for.  It  will  be  open  for  inspection  at  the 
conclusion  of  these  exercises,  and  will  speak  for 
itself.  A  few  facts,  briefly  stated,  however,  may  be 
of  interest. 

The  subject  was  first  broached  to  the  town  at  its 
annual  meeting  on  the  2d  of  April,  1900, — four  and 
a  half  years  ago.  Seven  and  a  half  sufficed  for  the 
building  of  Solomon's  temple,  but  Solomon  and 
Hiram  wrought  in  harmony.  Four  and  a  half  years  ! 
A  period  marked  by  vicissitudes  "grand,  gloomy, 
and  peculiar,"  and  by  enactments  wise  and  otherwise, 
which  have  passed  into  local  history,  and  need  not 
here  be  recounted. 

The  total  cost  to  the  donor  of  the  building,  with 
its  fixed  furniture,  has  been  upwards  of  $27,000, — 
more  than  two  and  a  quarter  times  what  he  first 
proposed  to  give.  For  the  movable  furniture  and 
incidentals  about  $3,000 — from  the  funds  of 
former  benefactors — has  been  expended,  making  the 
total  cost  of  the  building  and  equipments  about 
$30,000. 

The  original  cost  of  the  lot  was  $5,500,  fur- 
nished by  the  town  and  a  member  of  the  Building 
Committee;  while  the  expense  of  grading,  walks, 
shrubbery,  etc.,  increased  that  item  to  nearly  $6,000, 
thus  adding  to  the  non-taxable  but  large  divi- 
dend-paying property  of  the  town  approximately 
$36,000. 

70 


It  would  be  more  in  accordance  with  our  sense  of 
the  fitness  of  things  for  Mr.  Larned,  in  person,  to 
present  the  symbols  of  ownership  and  enjoy  the 
heart-felt  applause  of  the  beneficiaries,  but  his  liber- 
ality is  even  exceeded  by  his  modesty ;  and  he  has 
begged  to  be  excused,  since  his  forte  is  "Deeds 
rather  than  Words."  In  deference  to  the  wishes 
of  others,  however,  to  which  he  is  not  indifferent, 
I  understand  he  has  penned  a  brief  note,  which 
embodies  the  substance  of  all  he  could  say,  and 
will  be  read  by  our  now  friend,  Mr.  Robinson,  of 
Gloucester. 

MR.  ROBINSON: 

OXFORD,  MASS.,  Oct.  5, 1904. 

To  THE  CITIZENS  OF  OXFORD  AND  OUR  WELCOME 
GUESTS  : 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen, —  It  affords  me  great 
pleasure  to  meet  and  greet  you  all  to-day.  It  is  an 
occasion  for  mutual  congratulations.  We  have  a 
common  pride  in  this  historic  old  town,  and  the 
memories  of  my  early  life  which  I  passed  here  have 
prompted  me  to  erect  upon  your  beautiful  street  the 
Memorial  Building  which  we  dedicate  to  the  use 
and  benefit  of  all.  I  am  glad  to  do  this,  for  the 
character  and  purpose  of  the  structure  mean  much 
to  me,  and  I  feel  assured  that  it  will  be  used,  en- 
joyed, and  appreciated  by  you  and  your  successors 
for  many,  many  years. 

In  tendering,  through  the  Building  Committee, 
the  deed*  of  the  property  with  the  keys  to  the  repre- 

*  See  page  96. 

71 


sentatives  of  the  town,  I  wish  publicly  to  thank  all 
who  have  in  any  way  contributed  to  the  success  of 
the  undertaking,  and  especially  to  express  my  high 
appreciation  of  the  gratuitous  services  of  our  Build- 
ing Committee,  to  whose  untiring  exertions  this 
happy  consummation  is  chiefly  due. 

Cordially  yours, 

CHARLES  LARNED. 


CHAIRMAN  :  "Exegi  monumentum  cere  per  ennius," 
cried  the  enraptured  Latin  poet,  as  he  contemplated 
his  triumphs  in  verse, — "I  have  reared  a  monument 
more  lasting  than  brass" — and  ages  have  proved  it 
no  vain  boast.  There  are  other  earthly  pledges  of 
immortal  honor  no  less  sure.  An  American  poet 
whose  laurels,  like  those  of  Horace,  will  be  green 
through  the  centuries, — James  Russell  Lowell, — 
once  said  on  an  occasion  similar  to  the  present : — 

"There  is  no  way  in  which  a  man  can  build  so 
secure  and  lasting  a  monument  for  himself  as  in  a 
public  library.  Upon  that  he  may  confidently  allow 
Resurgam  to  be  carved,  for  through  his  good  deed 
he  will  rise  again  in  the  grateful  remembrance  and 
in  the  lifted  and  broadened  minds  and  fortified 
characters  of  generation  after  generation.  The 
Pyramids  may  forget  their  builders,  but  memorials 
such  as  this  have  longer  memories." 

And  in  similar  strain  the  eloquent  and  lamented 
Henry  Stedman  Nourse,  worthy  representative  of 
the  Library  Commission,  thus  voiced  the  same  senti- 
ment:— 


72 


"There  is  no  more  enduring  thing,  as  human 
matters  are  accounted,  than  the  free  public  library, 
and  he  who  puts  his  name  over  its  portals,  either  as 
founder  or  as  benefactor,  has  built  for  himself  a  more 
graceful  and  a  more  enduring  monument  than  any 
that  his  heirs  can  erect  in  any  cemetery,  though  they 
pile  granite  skywards  or  with  its  foundations  cover 
a  rood  of  ground." 

And  so,  despite  all  modest  protests,  in  the  far-off 
years  when  you  and  I  shall  have  gone  to  our  rest 
and  the  young  life  of  other  generations  shall  cluster 
around  yon  delivery  desk,  haply  some  one  may  ask, 
"Where  is  the  resting-place  of  him  who  in  the  long- 
ago  planned  for  us  so  wisely  and  so  well,  that  we 
may  at  least  stand  in  the  shadow  of  his  monument 
and  do  him  honor?"  And  the  answer  shall  come 
over  seas  from  the  silent  crypt  of  St.  Paul's,  where 
rest  the  remains  of  its  great  architect,  Sir  Christopher 
Wren:  "Si  monumentum  qumris  circumspice" — 
"If  you  seek  a  monument,  look  about  you"  and  the 
spontaneous  tribute  of  grateful  hearts  shah1  rise  like 
incense,  and  haUow  all  the  place. 

It  only  remains  for  the  Building  Committee  to 
surrender  its  trust  and  responsibilities  by  turning 
over  to  the  authorities  of  the  town  the  deed  of  gift 
which,  as  Mr.  Larned's  representative,  I  hold  in  my 
hand,  with  the  keys  which  give  the  people  free  ac- 
cess to  the  building  and  its  treasures.  Upon  one  of 
these  keys  is  inscribed  MASTER,  which  indicates  that 
it  will  open  the  way  to  every  room  in  the  building. 
In  it  I  see  a  type  of  the  library  itself  in  its  sumptu- 
ously appointed  home,  which,  rightly  used,  is  a  master- 

73 


key  to  all  the  chambers  of  human  knowledge.  [De- 
livery of  deed  and  keys  to  Lawrence  F.  Kilty,  chair- 
man of  the  Board  of  Selectmen.]  Guard  it  well, 
and  may  the  town  be  indulgent  and  liberal  to  this 
child  of  its  old  age,  so  making  its  future  career  of 
enlarged  opportunity  and  increased  usefulness  tell 
upon  the  generations  following, 

"That  our  sons  may  be  as  plants  grown  up  in  their 
youth ;  that  our  daughters  may  be  as  corner-stones, 
polished  after  the  similitude  of  a  palace." 

MR.  KILTY: 

Mr.  Chairman, —  It  gives  me  pleasure,  in  behalf 
of  the  people  of  Oxford,  as  their  chosen  represen- 
tative on  this  occasion,  to  accept  from  your  hand 
the  keys  to  this  new  and  valued  acquisition  by  the 
town. 

Oxford,  rich  in  the  munificence  of  her  former 
sons  and  daughters,  is  again  reminded  of  those  who, 
in  her  earlier  history,  by  lives  and  labors  have  contrib- 
uted so  much  to  the  character  and  reputation  which 
she  now  enjoys.  This  costly  memorial  places  within 
easy  reach  of  our  people  the  key  of  knowledge  and 
education.  It  dignifies  town  office,  and  it  will  be  a 
just  matter  of  pride  to  those  intrusted  with  town 
affairs  to  see  that  the  interests  of  the  Free  Public 
Library  do  not  suffer  at  their  hands,  but  rather  that 
its  usefulness  is  enhanced. 

In  behalf  of  the  town  I  wish  to  extend  thanks  to 
the  donor  of  the  Charles  Lamed  Memorial  for  one 
of  the  most  beautiful  free  public  library  buildings 
in  the  Commonwealth. 


74 


The  chairman  of  the  Board  of  Selectmen  in  turn 
transferred  the  keys  to  the  Trustees  of  the  Free 
Public  Library,  represented  by  Orrin  F.  Joslin, 
chairman,  who  responded  as  follows :  — 

Mr.  Chairman, — In  behalf  of  the  Trustees  of  Ox- 
ford Free  Public  Library  I  accept  from  you  the  keys 
of  this  building.  In  their  acceptance  we  realize 
that  we  are  taking  upon  ourselves  a  great  respon- 
sibility, for  on  the  public  schools  and  public  libra- 
ries depend  in  a  large  degree  the  developing,  uplift- 
ing, and  ennobling  of  future  generations.  We 
realize  this  fact,  and  pledge  ourselves  to  untiring 
devotion  to  its  best  interests  in  every  department  of 
its  work. 

In  order  that  this  building  may  fulfill  in  the 
highest  degree  the  purpose  for  which  it  has  been 
erected,  we  would  earnestly  request  the  hearty  co- 
operation of  the  citizens  of  Oxford,  both  old  and 
young.  Assured  of  this,  we  believe  that  this  beau- 
tiful library  building,  given  to  the  town  by  one 
deeply  interested  in  its  welfare,  can  be  made  a 
great  power  for  good  in  this  community. 

CHAIRMAN  :  The  prayer  of  dedication  will  now 
be  offered  by  Rev.  Charles  M.  Carpenter,  of  Oxford. 

PRAYER. 

Let  us  unite  our  hearts  in  prayer. 
0  Lord  our  God,  Thou  art  from  everlasting  to 
everlasting.     Thy  days  change  not,  Thy  years  are 

75 


ever  the  same.  And  so  we  know,  we  are  conscious, 
fully  conscious,  that  Thou  dost  still  love  Thy  chil- 
dren, and  that  Thou  dost  bestow  upon  the  sons  of 
men  great  gifts.  Heaven  and  earth  are  full  of  them. 
The  heavens  declare  Thy  glory,  and  the  earth  speaks 
forth  Thy  handiwork,  and  yet  they  cannot  tell  us 
all  the  things  Thou  wouldst  have  us  know  as  Thy 
sons  and  Thy  daughters,  created  in  Thine  own 
image;  and  so  Thou  hast  moved  mightily  upon 
man,  and  Thou  hast  inspired  great  minds  to  record 
great  events,  and  record  the  noble  thoughts  which 
are  born  of  God.  And  we  praise  Thee  that  gene- 
ration after  generation  are  the  recipients  of  Thy 
bounty  in  this  direction.  We  praisie  Thee,  0  Infi- 
nite God,  that  as  the  days  come  and  go,  ripening 
into  centuries,  the  events  which  have  gone  to  make 
up  this  great  world's  history,  the  events  which  have 
gone  to  ennoble  and  purify  and  lift  up  man,  have 
been  treasured  by  movable  types  and  upon  papers 
and  parchments  that  are  enduring. 

And  we  bless  Thee  also  that  Thou  didst  move 
upon  mighty  men  to  come  to  this  land,  barren,  des- 
titute, gloomy,  forbidding,  and  to  establish  here  the 
republic  that  should  endure  as  long  as  time  endures. 
We  praise  Thee  that  in  the  hearts  of  these  noble 
men  there  was  the  desire  to  worship  the  everlasting 
God,  and  to  bring  up  generations  that  should  honor 
Him  forever  and  forever.  And  now  we  praise  Thee 
that  Thou  didst  send  to  these  shores  representatives 
of  a  man  whose  heart  was  full  of  the  knowledge  of 
the  Lord,  and  who  cried  out  for  more  light.  May 
that  be  the  petition  of  all  descendants  of  him  who 

76 


loved  his  own  land,  but  sought  for  his  own  people 
a  larger  heritage.  And  we  pray  that  these  genera- 
tions now  existing  may  rise,  and  in  his  memory  do 
their  best  for  this  our  beloved  land.  And  we  thank 
Thee  for  the  memory  of  her  who  looked  back  through 
generations  to  him  who  loved  his  God  and  who  loved 
his  native  land,  and  who  desired  for  his  people  better 
things.  We  thank  Thee  for  that  spirit  of  philan- 
thropy which  she  fostered  in  him  who  has  so  won- 
derfully blessed  this  town.  We  thank  Thee  for  this 
donor  to  our  Free  Public  Library,  who  has  made  a 
home  for  that  collection  which  has  so  long  been 
dear  to  this  people. 

We  thank  Thee  for  the  hearts  that  inspired  men 
and  women  to  plant  this  library  here  in  our  midst. 
And  so,  Lord,  we  beseech  Thee  for  Thy  blessing 
upon  all  who  have  in  any  way  contributed  to  this 
great  event  in  the  history  of  Oxford.  We  pray  for 
Thy  blessing  upon  all  donors.  We  pray  for  Thy 
blessing  upon  all  who  have  arduously  toiled.  We  pray 
for  Thy  blessing  upon  the  recipients  of  this  gift.  We 
pray  for  Thy  blessing  upon  the  generations  yet  to 
come  and  to  enjoy  these  things;  We  pray  for  Thy 
benediction  upon  aU  that  pertains  in  any  way  to  this 
acquisition  to  our  town's  wealth.  Hear  us,  we  en- 
treat Thee,  and,  as  we  dedicate  this  building  to  Thee 
and  to  Thy  glory,  we  would  dedicate  it  to  these 
fathers  and  these  mothers,  these  sons  and  these 
daughters;  we  would  dedicate  it  to  the  children  of 
generations  yet  unborn ;  we  would  dedicate  it  as  a 
memorial  forever. 

And  we  beseech  Thee  to  hear  our  petitions  and 

77 


give  us  "more  light*'  until  the  day  when  Thou  shalt 
gather  us  all  into  Thy  kingdom,  with  Jesus  Christ, 
our  Lord.  Amen. 

CHAIRMAN  :  Friends,  this  is,  in  character,  a  kind 
of  "  Old  Home  Week"  gathering.  Most  of  those 
who  have  participated  are  in  some  manner  connected 
with  Oxford,  if  not  residents.  The  Orator  of  the 
Day,  however,  we  regret  to  say,  is  a  native  neither 
of  Oxford  nor  of  Worcester  County.  If  he  were, 
we  could  not  claim  him,  for  he  belongs  to  the  nation 
and  the  age.  We  are,  nevertheless,  no  less  happy  to 
welcome  him  here  to-day,  and  I  take  great  pleasure 
as  I  have  the  honor  to  introduce  to  you  the  distin- 
guished gentleman  who  will  deliver  the  dedicatory 
address  for  this  occasion, 

HON.  CARROLL  D.  WRIGHT,   President  of  Clark 
College  of  Worcester. 

ADDRESS. 

Dreams,  books,  are  each  a  world  ;  and  books,  we  know, 
Are  a  substantial  world,  both  pure  and  good. 
Round  these,  with  tendrils  strong  as  flesh  and  blood, 
Our  pastime  and  our  happiness  will  grow. 

WORDSWORTH,  in  "  Personal  Talk,"  Stanza  3. 

In  books  lies  the  soul  of  the  whole  Past  Time ;  the  articu- 
late audible  voice  of  the  Past,  when  the  body  and  material 
substance  of  it  has  altogether  vanished  like  a  dream. 

CARLYLE,  Heroes  and  Hero-worship. 

The   Commonwealth    of  Massachusetts   has    the 
proud    distinction  of   being  the  only   State  in  the 

78 


world  that  can  announce  the  great  fact  that  every 
city  and  town  within  its  borders  has  the  right  and 
privilege  of  a  free  public  library.  The  importance 
of  this  proclamation  is  enhanced  by  the  fact  that 
there  are  353  cities  and  towns  in  the  State.  One 
might  ask  why  it  is  that  this  Commonwealth  of  ours 
has  achieved  this  great  work.  I  think  we  may  look 
for  an  answer  in  the  principles  involved  in  the  set- 
tlement of  the  Plymouth  and  Massachusetts  Bay 
Colonies,  notwithstanding  the  diversity  of  the  char- 
acteristics of  the  settlers  or  founders  of  the  two  colo- 
nies. Those  of  the  Plymouth  Colony  took  on  the 
freedom  of  thought  of  the  Independents  who  made 
up  the  body  of  Pilgrims,  on  the  one  hand, —  relig- 
ious, broad-minded  men  and  women  as  they  were, — 
while,  on  the  other,  the  men  and  women  that  made 
up  the  Massachusetts  Bay  Colony  were  Puritanical, 
dogmatic,  narrow,  proscriptive,  but  thoroughly  im- 
bued with  the  idea  of  the  observance  of  a  strict  re- 
ligious life,  accompanied  by  the  desire  and  the 
determination  to  secure  educational  privileges,  the 
latter  being  evidenced  by  their  establishment  of 
Harvard  College  at  an  early  date.  There  seemed 
to  be  two  lines  of  thought  in  the  two  colonies  al- 
most antagonistic  in  their  nature,  yet  running  along 
in  other  directions  on  parallel  lines.  The  basis  of 
their  new  civilization  was  the  church,  as  evidenced 
by  the  parish,  the  unit  of  municipal  organization. 
Out  of  this  there  naturally  grew  the  desire  to  es- 
tablish the  two  fundamental  elements  of  American 
civilization, —  the  church  and,  by  its  side,  the  school- 
house.  Intolerant  as  they  were  of  religious  free- 

79 


dom  for  others,  fighting  for  the  liberty  of  con- 
science,—  and  by  that  they  meant  the  liberty  of 
their  own  conscience  and  not  that  of  others, —  they, 
nevertheless,  established  those  institutions  and  in- 
sisted upon  those  elements  of  civilization  which  have 
marked  the  course  and  the  progress  of  this  Com- 
monwealth, and  which  have  had  an  enduring  in- 
fluence in  the  establishment  of  American  constitu- 
tions. Keligious  to  the  extreme  of  bigotry,  and 
dogmatic  and  intolerant  as  they  were,  they  were 
nevertheless  statesmen  in  a  large  sense,  and  so 
ordered  their  lives  that  they  have  reflected  on  all 
other  political  organizations  in  this  country  the  firm 
principles  of  political  liberty  and  the  loftiest  ideals 
of  statecraft. 

The  leader  of  the  Pilgrims,  standing  in  their  midst 
in  Holland  on  the  21st  day  of  July,  1620,  gave 
to  the  world  a  new  Magna  Charta,  when  he  said  :  "  I 
charge  you  if  God  should  reveal  anything  to  you 
by  any  other  instrument  of  his,  be  as  ready  to 
receive  it  as  ever  you  were  to  receive  any  truth 
by  my  ministry,  and  I  am  confident  that  the  Lord 
hath  more  light  and  truth  yet  to  break  forth  out 
of  his  holy  word."  It  was  not  immediately  that 
his  disciples  saw  the  force  of  this  utterance.  In 
fact,  it  was  not  until  after  generations  that  the  real 
import  of  John  Robinson's  foresight  was  understood 
by  the  people  of  the  New  World ;  but  the  new  and 
the  other  light  came  gradually,  however,  and  the 
growth  of  our  new  civilization  can  date  its  birth 
from  the  utterances  of  John  Robinson,  whose  de- 
scendant, in  his  generosity,  and  with  a  clear  under- 

80 


standing  of  the  necessity  of  intellectual  growth  to 
secure  the  highest  ethical  results,  establishes  this 
beautiful  memorial  as  the  receptacle  for  the  public 
library  of  this  ancient  municipality.  No  other  town 
has  the  satisfaction  of  receiving  a  public  library 
erected  to  the  memory  of  a  lineal  descendant  of  the 
Rev.  John  Robinson  of  Leyden.  Your  town  appre- 
ciates this  generosity,  and  more, —  it  appreciates  the 
opportunity  given  it  for  perpetuating  not  only  the 
memory  of  the  one  who  gives  it,  but  the  lofty  senti- 
ments of  the  ancestor  who  did  so  much  to  inspire 
the  growth  of  the  highest  qualities  of  mind  in  our 
Commonwealth. 

You  have  struggled  here  to  gain  a  library  for  the 
benefit  of  your  citizens.  As  I  read  your  history,  I 
find  that  several  attempts  were  made  to  secure  a  col- 
lection of  books  that  should  be  of  service  to  your 
citizens,  and  from  these  small  beginnings  you  finally 
established  a  public  library.  But  you  needed  a  case, 
and  Charles  Lamed  has  furnished  it,  and  so  well  has 
he  done  in  its  furnishing  that  you  may  justly  be 
proud  of  the  rank  you  now  take  as  the  owner  of 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  library  buildings  in  the 
State. 

When  we  undertake  to  grasp  the  vast  domain  of 
knowledge,  we  often  regret  that  it  cannot  be  be- 
queathed as  can  other  possessions;  that  the  men  who 
have  spent  their  lives  in  the  pursuit  of  some  depart- 
ment of  human  knowledge  or  have  sacrificed  all  com- 
fort for  the  attainment  of  science  should  not  be  per- 
mitted to  transmit  their  acquisitions.  In  our  short- 
sightedness we  feel  that  the  world  loses  in  some  way 

81 


from  its  sum  of  information  when  such  men  as 
Agassiz  are  called  from  their  labors.  This  feeling 
of  loss  has  taken  possession  of  the  minds  of  men  in 
all  the  ages  that  have  witnessed  the  development  of 
the  human  race,  and  the  desire  to  give  to  the  world 
that  which  has  been  dearly  won  in  the  varied  fields 
of  learning  has  induced  scholars  to  put  into  books 
the  gems  of  their  possessions. 

To  transmit  the  results  of  research,  to  record  the 
deeds  of  men,  to  sing  the  praises  of  heroes,  even  to 
perpetuate  the  names  of  men, —  these  are  motives 
which  have  stimulated  the  labor  of  book-writing 
from  the  days  of  papyrean  records  to  present  times. 
And  yet  the  origin  of  books  cannot  be  traced. 
How  can  it  be  traced  when  the  scholastic  Greek  lost 
all  tradition  of  the  birth  of  his  nation?  And  books 
existed  long  before  the  birth  of  the  Greek  nation. 
The  Scriptures  were  written  in  language  dead  even 
at  the  time  of  their  discovery;  but  the  grand  litera- 
ture of  the  times  of  Moses  and  the  Prophets  has 
found  in  modern  scholarship  the  most  correct  inter- 
preters. 

The  knowledge  of  the  past  has  been  bequeathed 
to  us,  and  we  in  turn  shall  bequeath  the  accumula- 
tions of  all  the  ages  to  those  succeeding.  To  be- 
queath the  intellectual  treasures  of  the  past  necessi- 
tated the  institution  of  libraries,  and  so  we  read  of 
the  coUection  of  books  as  among  the  earliest  works 
of  man.  Even  the  Assyrians  and  Babylonians  had 
what  have  been  aptly  designated  "libraries  of  clay," 
being  collections  of  inscribed  bricks  and  tiles. 

It  is  contended  by  some  authors  that  the  Hebrews 


were  the  originators  of  libraries  proper,  and  that  the 
care  they  took  for  the  preservation  of  their  sacred 
records  and  the  story  of  the  actions  of  their  ances- 
tors furnished  an  example  to  other  nations.  It  is 
recorded  that  Osymandyas,  an  Egyptian  king,  taking 
the  hint  from  the  Hebrews,  established  a  library  in 
his  palace.  He  had  inscribed  over  the  door  of  his 
library,  "The  Storehouse  of  Medicine  for  the  Mind." 
The  Ptolemies  were  not  only  curious  as  to  books, 
but  preserved  them  in  magnificence  in  the  city  of 
Alexandria.  It  was,  indeed,  a  library  that  Nehemiah 
instituted  in  the  temple  of  Jerusalem,  and  in  which 
he  preserved  the  books  of  the  Prophets  and  of  David, 
and  the  letters  of  the  kings.  The  first  public  library 
at  Athens  was  founded  by  Pisistratus.  Rome  had 
its  great  collections  of  intellectual  treasures,  and  in 
ancient  times  every  large  church  had  its  library,  the 
first  church  library  having  been  founded  by  Pope 
Nicholas  at  the  Vatican  in  1450. 

The  invention  of  the  art  of  printing,  which  fol- 
lowed the  revival  of  learning  in  the  fourteenth  and 
fifteenth  centuries,  of  course  led  to  a  wonderful  in- 
crease in  the  production  of  books,  and  consequently 
to  a  new  era  in  the  history  of  public  libraries,  until 
to-day  the  grandest  monuments  of  civilization  man 
has  been  able  to  erect  are  the  vast  libraries  of  the 
world. 

So  it  seems  that  the  library,  almost  coeval  with 
man,  certainly  with  the  growth  of  acquired  knowl- 
edge, has  given  the  means  for  bequeathing  that 
knowledge,  and  thus  rendered  the  sacrifices  of  the 
devotees  of  science  and  of  all  learning  the  direct  in- 

83 


heritance  of  all  who  may  inquire  as  to  the  nature  of 
their  inheritance,  but  to  none  others  than  those  who 
knock  at  the  door.  The  history  of  libraries  shows, 
of  course,  that  ever-varying  fortune  which  attends 
the  history  of  art  and  of  all  that  belongs  to  man's 
finer  development,  but  the  library  has  been  the 
door  which  wise  men  have  erected  everywhere  at 
which  the  seeker  after  knowledge  can  knock  for  ad- 
mittance ;  and  the  only  condition  has  been  the  ex- 
istence of  the  desire  to  learn.  How  many  have 
wanted  to  enter,  but  could  find  no  door !  How 
many  have  recognized  the  portal,  but  have  failed  to 
give  the  sign  ! 

A  generation  before  our  Revolution  a  young 
man,  a  Boston  boy,  who  had  run  away  from  his 
apprenticeship  to  a  printer  in  Boston  and  had  made 
his  home  in  Philadelphia,  and  who  had  felt  the 
great  want  of  books,  determined  to  institute  means 
by  which  he  and  others  like  him  could  have  the 
benefit  of  the  brains  of  men  who  had  recorded  the 
results  of  their  labor.  This  young  man  had  been 
obliged  to  beg  and  borrow  books ;  had  pinched  his 
stomach,  that  his  mind  might  expand.  The  mem- 
bers of  a  little  club  to  which  he  belonged  con- 
tributed the  few  books  they  each  owned  to  a  com- 
mon stock,  and  with  these  and  a  subscription  of  two 
pounds  each  and  ten  shillings  a  year  from  about  fifty 
young  men  Franklin  inaugurated  his  first  impor- 
tant movement  for  the  good  of  his  fellow-men.  He 
laid  the  foundation  of  the  Public  Library  of  Phila- 
delphia. Franklin,  in  his  Autobiography,  in  speak- 
ing of  this  enterprise,  says :  "  This  was  the  mother 

84 


of  all  the  North  American  subscription  libraries,  now 
so  numerous.  It  has  become  a  great  thing  itself, 
and  continually  goes  on  increasing.  These  libra- 
ries have  improved  the  general  conversation  of  the 
Americans,  made  the  common  tradesmen  and  farmers 
as  intelligent  as  most  gentlemen  from  other  coun- 
tries, and  perhaps  have  contributed  in  some  degree 
to  the  stand  so  generally  made  throughout  the  col- 
onies in  defence  of  their  privileges." 

The  importance  Franklin  attached  to  this  institu- 
tion was  great  indeed,  and  the  realization  of  the 
value  of  the  library  resulting  from  his  own  wants 
only  influenced  him  still  more  in  urging  its  founda- 
tion. While  the  creation  of  this  subscription  li- 
brary at  Philadelphia  was,  as  I  have  said,  and  ac- 
cording to  Edward  Everett's  testimony  given  at  the 
dedication  of  the  Boston  Public  Library,  Franklin's 
first  work  of  importance  to  his  fellow-men,  the  li- 
brary he  established  was  the  first  of  the  kind  of 
which  there  is  any  record.  It  was  not  only  the 
mother  of  subscription  libraries,  but  the  parent  of 
the  distinctly  American  free  city  and  town  libraries 
which  exist  all  over  our  country. 

Andrew  Carnegie,  who  has  given  several  hundred 
libraries  to  different  municipalities,  has  testified  that 
he  was  induced  to  take  this  course  through  the  de- 
sire in  early  life  to  have  access  to  books,  and,  when 
a  friend  loaned  him  works  from  his  own  library,  he 
resolved  that,  if  he  ever  had  the  means,  he  would  do 
all  in  his  power  to  secure  like  privileges  for  others 
seeking  like  advantages. 

This  matter  of  bequeathing  knowledge  through 

85 


books  and  through  collections  of  books  called  libra- 
ries is  well  illustrated  by  an  anecdote  related  by  Mr. 
Samuel  S.  Green,  librarian  of  the  Free  Public  Li- 
brary of  Worcester,  in  his  address  at  the  opening 
of  the  library  building  of  Clark  University  last  Jan- 
uary. Mr.  Green  was  undertaking  to  show  how 
students  seeking  to  add  to  the  sum  of  human  knowl- 
edge must,  in  order  to  prevent  a  waste  of  time  and 
energy,  first  learn  what  is  already  known.  Hence 
the  need  of  libraries  to  serve  as  storehouses  of  the 
records  of  existing  knowledge.  He  stated  that  the 
process  by  which  civilization  grows,  in  so  far  as  it  is 
advanced  by  the  use  of  books,  is  a  simple  one,  and 
that  this  is  obvious  even  to  the  untutored  savage,  as 
is  well  illustrated  by  the  remarks  of  Geroiiimo,  an 
Indian  prisoner  of  the  United  States  a  few  years  ago, 
who,  when  asked,  "  Do  not  the  products  of  civilized 
life  astonish  you?"  replied,  "No,  I  see  how  they 
come  about.  A  man  does  something,  and  writes  a 
book  to  describe  it.  Another  man  comes  along,  and 
reads  that  book,  and  it  occurs  to  him  that  he  can  do 
better  the  thing  that  has  been  done.  He  improves 
upon  his  predecessor,  and  writes  a  book  to  record  his 
accomplishment.  A  third  person  improves  upon  the 
work  of  the  second,  and  succeeding  scholars  and 
thinkers,  adding  their  own  achievements  to  those  of 
their  predecessors,  in  time  produce  the  glorious  re- 
sults of  high  civilization.  But,"  he  added,  "  I  was 
taken  to  New  Orleans,  and  shown  an  establishment 
in  which  ice  was  made.  At  one  end  of  a  building  I 
saw  wood  thrown  into  furnaces,  and  out  of  the 
other  end  came  blocks  of  ice.  Man  did  not  do  that : 


only  God  Almighty  can  make  ice  from  fire."  And 
Mr.  Green  added,  after  relating  this  interesting  an- 
ecdote, that,  although  Geronimo  had  not  come  to 
understand  fully  the  power  of  man  when  he  avails 
himself  of  the  forces  of  the  universe,  he  certainly 
had  grasped  an  underlying  principle  in  the  process 
of  civilization.  The  garnered  treasures  of  past 
learning  and  the  knowledge  of  the  present  are  step- 
ping stones  to  higher  achievements  and  greater  en- 
lightenment. Standing  on  the  shoulders  of  earlier 
scholars,  we  gain  a  wider  outlook  and  broader  views. 

So  we  need  have  no  fear  of  losing  the  results  of 
the  work  accomplished  by  the  human  intellect.  The 
man  who  accomplishes  results  is  mortal,  and  dies, 
but  his  work  survives  him,  and  the  library  is  the 
storehouse  that  perpetuates  all  that  is  worth  remem- 
bering and  what  the  student  needs  to  enable  him  to 
go  forward  in  his  researches,  while  it  furnishes  the 
opportunity  to  man  to  gain  a  broader  culture  in  life, 
even  if  he  does  not  secure  the  fundamental  facts  of 
knowledge.  Literature,  art,  everything  that  helps 
to  adorn  the  human  character,  can  be  gained  by 
reading,  —  by  the  study  of  what  is  and  of  what  has 
been. 

So  the  library  is  what  Carlyle  called  it.  He  said, 
"  The  true  university  of  these  days  is  a  collection  of 
books."  That  author,  given  to  epigrammatic  say- 
ings, never  recorded  a  wiser  one.  The  library  is 
the  university  of  the  town,  and  every  town  in  our 
honored  Commonwealth  has  this  university.  It  is 
the  source  to  which  all  citizens  can  freely  go  when- 
ever taste,  inclination,  or  the  desire  for  knowledge, 

87 


inspires  them.  And  in  the  light  of  this  grand  in- 
fluence we  may  overlook  the  criticisms  that  are 
often  made  upon  the  character  of  the  collection. 
This  world  is  not  made  up  entirely  of  wheat.  In 
the  divine  plan  there  is  chaff.  The  thistles  will 
grow  up  and  help  smother  the  pure  grain,  but  the 
pure  grain  is  there,  and  the  care  exercised  by  the 
managers  of  our  public  libraries  is  evidence  that 
the  tares  are  kept  to  the  minimum. 

The  influence  of  the  library  as  the  university  of 
the  town  is  felt  to  a  large  degree  in  the  new  proc- 
esses or  new  methods,  rather,  of  instruction.  Many 
of  us  remember  that  the  teacher's  task  as  a  teacher 
was  finished  when  she  had  asked  the  questions  at 
the  bottom  of  the  page  of  the  text-book ;  that  there 
was  no  indication  or  suggestion  of  what  the  student 
better  read  in  a  collateral  way  in  order  to  interest 
him  and  to  enable  him  to  gain  other  information 
than  that  given  in  the  text-book,  or  to  broaden  his 
mind  by  understanding  the  views  of  other  authors 
than  those  given  him  to  study.  In  fact,  there  would 
have  been  little  use  fifty  years  ago  of  the  teacher's 
suggesting  to  the  student  a  course  of  collateral  read- 
ing, for  the  source  of  such  reading  was  not  at  hand, 
except  in  a  very  few  private  libraries,  and  then  only  to 
a  limited  degree.  Now  the  teacher  knows  well  that 
putting  the  questions  which  the  text-book  contains 
is  the  smallest  or  slightest  part  of  her  work.  She 
must  illuminate  the  whole  subject ;  she  must  stimu- 
late the  young  mind  in  its  plastic  stage ;  she  must 
throw  around  her  work  the  elements  that  will  induce 
the  boy  or  girl  to  seek  further  light  and  to  secure 

88 


greater  enjoyment  in  the  acquisition  of  knowledge. 
If  it  be  a  class  in  history,  she  can  easily  say  to  its 
members,  "You  will  find  in  such  and  such  works 
an  elaboration  of  this  principle  or  the  facts  given 
more  in  extenso"  and  the  pupil  has  recourse  to  the 
public  library,  where  he  can  supplement  the  some- 
what rigid  work  of  the  curriculum  by  interesting 
collateral  reading  and  gain  a  new  insight  into  the 
dryness  of  the  text-book. 

This  course  leads  the  young  mind  to  comprehend 
the  real  power  of  knowing  well  what  is  taught  in 
a  preliminary  way  only  in  the  public  schools.  The 
pupil  learns  the  power  which  he  gains  by  a  fuUer 
knowledge,  and,  if  he  be  industrious  and  his  selec- 
tions are  wise,  he  can  lead  his  class,  and  be  an  in- 
fluence in  his  school  and  in  his  community.  While 
this  is  peculiarly  true  of  history,  it  is  also  true  that 
other  branches  afford  the  same  opportunity — in  dif- 
ferent degrees,  perhaps — of  acquiring  that  collateral 
knowledge  which  is  so  necessary  in  the  study  of  any 
branch  of  learning. 

Truly,  the  public  library  is  the  university  of  the 
town,  but  it  goes  beyond  this.  The  use  of  the 
books  of  a  public  library  by  the  pupils  in  the  schools 
carries  its  influence  to  the  father  and  the  mother  and 
the  older  members  of  the  family,  and  a  taste  for 
reading  is  acquired.  Those  of  us  who  are  passing 
down  the  closing  years  of  our  lives  know  well  that 
the  man  who  has  a  taste  for  reading,  who  never 
allows  an  hour  to  pass  in  idleness  when  he  can  oc- 
cupy himself  with  a  good  book,  has  a  hold  that  no 
other  man  has.  He  is  not  only  entertaining  himself? 


but  he  may  entertain  others ;  and  he  is  a  safer  man, 
a  better  citizen,  a  truer  patriot,  than  the  man  who 
has  never  had  the  good  fortune  to  acquire  the  taste 
for  reading.  The  library  helps  him  in  his  declining 
years  to  make  himself  an  agreeable  companion  and 
a  real  helper  in  the  progress  of  the  studies  of  the 
youth  of  his  community. 

We  often  hear  some  condemnation  of  the  public 
library.  You  will  recall  that  the  distinguished  play- 
wright, Richard  Brinsley  Sheridan,  in  "  The  Rivals," 
puts  it  in  the  mouth  of  one  of  his  characters  to  say 
that  "a  circulating  library  in  a  town  is  as  an  evergreen 
tree  of  diabolical  knowledge."  This  sentiment  was 
uttered  130  years  ago,  but  we  still  hear  it.  We  are 
still  told  that  the  public  library  feeds  the  ambition 
of  the  young,  causes  degeneration  of  the  mind,  and 
pollutes  morals ;  and  here  and  there  we  hear  of  a 
youth  who  has  been  led  into  criminal  courses  by  read- 
ing trashy  novels  and  adventures.  We  hear  that 
much  reading  creates  discontent  among  the  people, 
who,  it  is  assumed,  ought  to  confine  their  lives  in 
the  narrow  limits  of  a  workaday  existence;  that 
through  this  discontent  they  are  constantly  grasping 
for  things  not  within  their  reach,  and  that  by  such 
grasping  they  fail  to  perform  the  duties  belonging 
to  an  industrious  life. 

All  these  things  may  be  true,  but  I  assure  you 
they  are  true  only  in  a  very  limited  degree ;  and  the 
extent  to  which  they  are  true  is  offset  by  a  higher 
element  which  comes  into  the  lives  of  those  who 
have  free  access  to  books.  Every  day  I  meet  men 
of  the  strongest  mental  capacity,  men  hard  at  work 

90 


in  their  particular  walk  in  life — students  of  science, 
writers,  men  whose  labors  cannot  be  limited  to  an 
eight  or  a  ten  hour  day, — the  products  of  whose 
minds  are  giving  to  the  world  some  of  the  best 
thought  and  the  best  results  that  can  be  secured, 
but  who  seek  recreation,  relaxation, — rest,  in  fact, — 
by  reading  romance.  We  may  say  this  is  perfectly 
safe  for  a  mature  mind,  but  unsafe  for  the  young. 
I  believe  too  much  novel-reading  by  the  young  is 
pernicious  to  some  degree,  but  chiefly  because  it  may 
vitiate  a  taste  for  reading  of  a  higher  order.  The 
good,  clean,  and  wholesome  novel  only  stimulates 
mental  activity :  it  does  not  dull  it ;  but,  carried  too 
far,  the  better  works  are  laid  aside  or  neglected, 
just  as  too  much  magazine  reading  after  a  while 
vitiates  the  taste  or  dulls  the  desire  to  read  more 
sustained  works.  A  man  who  reads  magazines  con- 
stantly, shrinks  from  taking  up  a  work  of  four  or 
five  hundred  pages  on  some  subject  which  would  be 
of  advantage  to  him.  And  yet  the  magazine  is  the 
chief  source  to  which  many  in  their  busy  lives  can 
turn  for  the  gratification  of  the  desire  to  read  at  all. 
The  skimming  of  newspapers — a  necessity  in  our 
day — takes  the  edge  off  the  desire  to  read  books. 
But,  when  we  study  the  statistics  of  libraries  and  see 
the  character  of  the  works  that  circulate  in  any  com- 
munity, especially  in  New  England,  I  think  one  is 
fully  satisfied  that  there  are  no  works  of  substantial 
merit  in  a  public  library  that  do  not  receive  gratify- 
ing attention. 

We  are  living  in  the  day  when  competition  is 
mind  with  mind.     Life  is  exacting.     The  necessity 

91 


to  earn  one's  living  and  to  support  one's  family 
leads  to  the  desire  for  recreation,  and  this  modern 
condition  superinduces  the  desire  for  general  read- 
ing. The  activity  of  the  mind  must  be  fed,  and  the 
degree  in  which  the  feeding  process  goes  on  de- 
pends upon  the  facility  of  securing  the  food. 

I  believe  that  the  reading  by  any  man  or  boy  or 
girl  of  even  what  we  may  call  trashy  novels  is  bet- 
ter for  him  or  her  than  the  idling  away  of  his  or  her 
life  on  the  street  or  in  questionable  places,  though 
by  such  reading  we  may  occasionally  witness  a  wreck. 
In  every  work  there  will  be  found  something  good? 
and,  if  a  book  takes  a  boy  off  the  street  and  from 
vicious  companions,  so  much  good  has  been  accom- 
plished. The  influence  may  not  be  immediate,  but 
it  is  there.  It  is  always  in  every  book,  as  in  every 
play,  however  low  down  it  may  be,  that  virtue  is 
lauded,  and  when  virtue  triumphs,  even  in  the  old 
Bowery  Theatre  in  New  York,  the  applause  which 
comes  from  the  galleries  is  stronger  than  that  from 
any  other  part  of  the  house ;  and  no  author  of  a  cheap 
novel  would  allow  his  created  viUain  to  secure  per- 
manent success.  Many  a  child  reading  light  and 
even  frivolous  works  has  often  had  his  taste  for 
reading  stimulated  to  the  selection  of  better  books, 
and  this  process  may  secure  to  him  that  general 
taste  for  reading  which  enables  one  to  obtain  higher 
positions  in  life  than  would  otherwise  have  been 
possible.  There  is  no  one  so  poor  as  the  man  who 
does  not  read. 

We  must  not  condemn  utterly  all  reading  simply 
because  some  is  of  such  a  character  as  to  exert  a  bad 

92 


influence.  This  is  just  as  true  of  life  as  it  is  of 
books.  We  must  not  condemn  all  men  because 
some  are  vicious.  The  better  way  to  overcome  the 
influences  which  come  from  strong  drink  is  by  some 
healthful  substitute.  It  may  not  be  a  radical  sub- 
stitute, but  whatever  it  is  that  prevents  the  presence 
in  the  saloon  or  the  idling  away  of  hours  in  the 
streets  in  dissolute  companionship  is  certainly  to  be 
commended,  in  so  far  as  it  accomplishes  this  result. 

But  there  is  one  grand  satisfaction  in  considering 
this  side  of  the  public  library,  and  that  is  that  in 
the  sterling  virtues  of  our  people,  as  exercised 
through  the  town  meeting,  the  purest  type  of  de- 
mocracy that  has  ever  existed,  there  is  a  careful  scru- 
tiny in  the  selection  of  books  for  the  shelves.  This 
must  be  kept  up.  There  must  be  a  judicious  cen- 
sorship in  the  management  of  every  public  library, 
and  with  this  censorship  we  need  have  no  very 
alarming  fears  of  the  result. 

I  think  it  is  safe  to  say  that  the  public  library 
now  completes  the  trinity  of  public  influences  in 
shaping  thought.  Our  forefathers  established  the 
church  and  the  school-house.  We  have  added  to 
these  the  public  library,  and  now  these  three  great 
institutions  are  with  us,  and  aim  for  the  very  best 
civilization.  How  can  it  be  otherwise  ?  What  has 
been  the  great  influence  that  keeps  this  country  true 
to  the  principles  established  by  the  settlers?  We 
are  not  a  warlike  people.  We  believe  in  education, 
and  are  willing  to  take  the  results.  France,  with  its 
brilliant  history,  with  all  its  science  and  its  literature, 
now  spends  $4  per  capita  for  military  purposes  per 


annum,  and  only  70  cents  per  capita  for  general 
public  educational  work ;  and  England,  our  mother, 
spends  $3.72  per  annum  for  military  purposes,  and 
only  62  cents  per  capita  for  the  education  of  her 
people.  Prussia  spends  $2.04  for  her  military  es- 
tablishment per  capita,  and  only  50  cents  for  her 
public  schools.  The  United  States  expends  75  cents 
per  capita  per  annum  for  military  equipment,  and 
$3  per  capita  for  her  public  education,  while  we  in 
Massachusetts  spend  $4.96  for  every  man,  woman, 
and  child  within  the  State's  borders  for  public 
schools. 

These  facts  testify  to  the  influences  which  have 
worked  with  us.  They  show  that  we  care  more  for 
the  qualities  of  the  mind  than  for  any  other,  and 
that  we  are  following  the  great  exhortation  of  John 
Robinson  to  receive  light  whenever  it  is  revealed  to 
us;  and  this  library,  citizens  of  Oxford,  this  gen- 
erous memorial,  is  an  evidence  that  in  your  triple 
position  of  Pilgrim  and  Puritan  and  Huguenot  you 
have  not  lost  sight  of  those  great  principles  which 
mean  religious  and  political  liberty  and  intellectual 
freedom. 

CHAIRMAN:  Permit  me  to  repeat  the  notice  al- 
ready given,  that  the  Charles  Larned  Memorial  will 
be  open  for  inspection  at  the  close  of  these  exer- 
cises. 

You  are  now  requested  to  rise  and  join  in  the 
singing  of  "  America,  "and  remain  standing  until  the 
benediction  is  pronounced  by  Rev.  Albert  Tyler,  of 
Oxford. 


94 


SINGING. 
America. 

BENEDICTION. 

And  now  may  the  Father's  everlasting  blessing 
rest  upon  this  edifice  which  we  have  upon  this  occa- 
sion dedicated.  May  the  Father's  kindly  hand  rest 
in  blessing  upon  the  head  and  heart  of  him  who  was 
inspired  to  build  it.  May  the  memories  of  this  glo- 
rious occasion  be  with  us  in  days  to  come,  inspiring 
us  to  work  for  humanity  and  for  the  glory  of  God. 
Amen. 


05 


DEED. 
all  men  bn  tlK0c  presents, 


,  CHARLES  L  ARM  ED,  of  Boston,  in  the  County  of  Suffolk 
and  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  in  consideration  of  one  dol- 
lar and  other  valuable  considerations  paid  by  the  TOWN  OF 
OXFORD,  in  the  County  of  Worcester  and  Commonwealth  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, the  receipt  whereof  is  hereby  acknowledged,  do  hereby 
remise,  release,  and  forever  quitclaim  unto  the  said  TOWN  OF 
OXFORD  a  building  constructed  of  Kittanning  gray  brick  with 
Milford  pink  granite  foundation  and  trimmings,  designated  on 
a  granite  slab  at  the  front  of  the  balcony  over  the  main  entrance 
and  known  as  the  CHARLES  LARNED  MEMORIAL,  for  the 
purpose  set  forth  on  a  metal  tablet  set  into  the  front  wall  in  a 
niche  north  of  said  main  entrance,  bearing  the  following  legend  : 


I 


@  THIS    BUILDING  *** 

ERECTED 

TO    THE    MEMORY    OF 
CLARISSA    ROBINSON    LARNED 

A    LINEAL    DESCENDANT 

IN     THE     SEVENTH     GENERATION 

OF 

REV.    JOHN    ROBINSON 

OF    LEYDEN    

IS    PRESENTED 

TO    THE 
TOWN  OF  OXFORD 

FOR  THE    USE   OF   ITS 

FREE    PUBLIC    LIBRARY 

FOR    ALL  TIME  & 


Said  building  being  located  on  what  was  formerly  known  as 
the  "Captain  De  Witt  lot"  and  later  as  the  "Hyde  lot,"  on  the 
west  side  of  Main  Street,  at  the  corner  of  Sigourney  Street,  in  said 


96 


Oxford,  bounded  and  described  as  follows :  on  the  east  by  Main 
Street  about  one  hundred  seventy-five  feet;  on  the  north  by  land 
of  Orrin  F.  Joslin  about  two  hundred  feet ;  on  the  west  by  land 
of  Herman  H.  Sigourney  about  one  hundred  seventy-five  feet ;  on 
the  south  by  Sigourney  Street  about  two  hundred  feet;  being  the 
same  premises  conveyed  to  Orrin  F.  Joslin  by  Mary  D.  Hyde  by 
deed  dated  the  twenty-third  day  of  July  in  the  year  one  thou- 
sand nine  hundred  one  (23  July,  1901)  and  recorded  in  Worcester 
District  Registry  Book  1690,  page  444,  corrected  by  a  quitclaim 
deed  from  said  Hyde  to  said  Joslin,  dated  20  May,  1902,  and 
-filed  for  record  in  Worcester  District  Registry. 

©o  Ijatu?  and  to  Ijolb  the  granted  premises,  with  all  the  privileges 
and  appurtenances  thereto  belonging,  to  the  said  Town  of  Oxford 
and  its  heirs  and  assigns,  to  their  own  use  and  behoof  forever. 

And  I  do  hereby,  for  myself  and  my  heirs,  executors,  and 
administrators,  covenant  with  the  said  grantee  and  its  heirs 
and  assigns  that  the  granted  premises  are  free  from  all  incum- 
brances  made  or  suffered  by  me,  and  that  I  will  and  my  heirs, 
executors,  and  administrators  shall  warrant  anJ»  brfimb  the  same  to 
the  said  grantee  and  its  heirs  and  assigns  forever  against  the 
lawful  claims  and  demands  of  all  persons  claiming  by,  through, 
or  under  me,  but  against  none  other. 

SH  imturss  rnlf*mtf,  I,  the  said  CHARLES  LARNED,  being  un- 
married, hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal  this  twenty-ninth  day  of 
September  in  the  year  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  four. 

Signed,  sealed,  and  delivered ") 

in  presence  of  CHARLES  LARNED.  [SEAL] 

JOHN  E.  KIMBALL.          \ 


<E0mmrmfa?ttltlf 

Suffolk  ss.,  29  September,  1904..  Then  personally  appeared  the 
above-named  CHARLES  LARNED,  and  acknowledged  the  fore- 
going instrument  to  be  his  free  act  and  deed,  before  me, 

JOHN  E.  KIMBALL, 
Worcester,  ss.  Justice  of  the  Peace. 


November  15,   1904,   at  3  hours,  16  minutes,  p.m.    Received 
and  entered  with  Worcester  District  Deeds,  Book  1794,  page  4-87. 

Attest : 

DANIEL  KENT, 

Register. 
97 


THE   BUILDING. 

The  plot  upon  which  the  Charles  Larned  Memo- 
rial stands  is  the  most  eligible,  for  library  purposes, 
within  the  limits  of  the  town.  Sufficiently  removed 
from  the  noisy  activities  of  village  life,  it  is  yet 
hard-by  the  business  and  residential  centre  and 
within  easy  reach  of  post-office,  stores,  schools,  and 
churches. 

"  Oxford  Plain,"  so  called,  is  noted  for  the  beauty 
of  its  Main  Street.  Seven  rods  in  width,  this  well- 
shaded  thoroughfare  extends  north  and  south  for 
nearly  a  mile  on  a  level. 

Upon  its  west  side  with  a  frontage  of  about 
180  feet  and  a  depth  westward  of  200  feet  on 
Sigourney  Street, —  its  southern  boundary, —  bor- 
dered on  the  north  and  west  by  private  estates,  these 
amply  shaded  and  spacious  grounds,  retired,  yet  easy 
of  access,  offer  an  ideal  location  for  an  institution 
upon  which  more  than  upon  any  other  is  focussed 
the  interest  of  the  whole  community. 

The  building,  in  the  form  of  a  Roman  cross  and 
Renaissance  in  style  of  architecture,  is  placed  in  the 
centre  of  the  lot,  facing  eastward,  the  extreme 
width  from  north  to  south  being  about  70  feet,  and 
its  length,  east  and  west  from  entrance  steps  to  rear 
of  stack-room,  upwards  of  82  feet. 


PE,  R.A. 


land 


in   1620 


THE    BUILDING. 

The  plot  upon  which  the  Charles  Lamed  Memo- 
rial stands  is  the  most  eligible,  for  library  purposes, 
within  the  limits  of  the  town.  Sufficiently  removed 
from  the  noisy  activities  of  village  life,  it  is  yet 
hard-b^'^h^^ft^in^^^cf^slifeM^Lal  centre  and 
within  easy  reach  of  post-office,  stores,  schools,  and 
churches. 


61  Oxford  Plain,''  so  called,  is  noted  for  the  beauty 

,  .,    fcP"l.M"Af  .*>!.;v>j  tfi  ,n8i',*h4  8v  :  J 

or  its  Mam  fetreet.    seven  rods  in  width,  this  well- 


shaded  thoroughfare^  extends  north  and   south  for 
nearly  a  mile  on  a  level. 

iKl^atybJKfl&r^  tFJf&i^tfeg»tege  of  about 
180  feet  and  a  depth  westward  of  200  feet  on 
Sigourney  Street,  —  its  southern  boundary,  —  bor- 
*leradbtiBf  r^fefc  »mtk/aiij[i^e«ti  by  pmvateefetart^sy  these 
amply  shaded  an^sgacgojis^poirnds,  retired,  yet  easy 
of  access,  offer  an  ideal  location  for  an  institution 
upon  which  more  than  upon  any  other  is  focussed 
the  interest  of  the  whole  community. 

The  building,  in  the  form  of  a  Roman  cross  and 
Renaissance  in  style  of  architecture,  is  placed  in  the 
centre  of  the  lot,  facing  eastward,  the  extreme 
width  from  north  to  south  being  about  70  feet,  and 
its  length,  east  and  west  from  entrance  steps  to  rear 
of  stack-room,  upwards  of  82  feet. 


The  central  portion  is  two  stories  in  height, 
affording  a  spacious  room  on  the  second  floor  for 
the  display  of  art  and  antiquities,  smah1  gatherings 
for  conference,  a  trustees'  room,  attic  storage  rooms, 
etc. 

A  broad  granolithic  walk  leads  from  Main  Street 
to  the  front  entrance, —  the  head  of  the  cross, — and, 
ascending  a  flight  of  eight  granite  steps  flanked 
by  heavy  buttresses,  we  stand  in  the  entrance 
porch  between  polished  granite  columns  and  pilas- 
ters. Over  our  heads,  in  heavy  block  letters  cut 
from  the  solid  stone,  stands  out 

FKEE   PUBLIC   LIBKAKY, 
and  surmounting  this,  in  front  of  the  balcony  above, 

CHAELES  LAKNED 
MEMOKIAL, 

while  just  to  the  right  of  the  porch,  in  a  niche 
corresponding  to  the  window  on  the  left,  is  placed 
a  massive  bronze  tablet,  bearing  the  legend  repro- 
duced on  page  96. 

Entering  the  vestibule,  a  flight  of  stairs  on  the 
right  leads  to  the  basement.  Passing  through  the 
door  in  front,  we  are  in  the  Delivery  Hall.  On 
the  right,  stairs  lead  to  the  floor  above.  On  the 
left  is  a  small  room  furnished  with  cases,  table,  and 
chairs  for  special  study  or  conversation.  Directly 
in  front  is  the  Delivery  Counter  and  Cataloguing 
Eoom,  immediately  in  the  rear  of  which  is  the 
Stack  Room.  On  the  right  or  north  of  the  delivery 
counter  is  the  Librarian's  Room,  with  Toilet  Room 


adjoining.  Corresponding  to  the  librarian's  room 
on  the  left  or  south  of  the  delivery  counter  is  the 
Reference  Room.  South  of  the  delivery  hall  and 
reference  room  and  extending  from  front  to  rear  of 
the  main  building  is  the  General  Reading  Room, 
lighted  by  windows  on  three  sides.  In  the  corre- 
sponding wing  on  the  north  side  is  the  Juvenile 
Room,  somewhat  smaUer.  Each  of  the  two  latter 
being  furnished  with  a  spacious  fireplace,  bordered 
by  enamelled  tile-work  and  a  rich  mantel. 

The  stack-room,  including  the  basement,  is 
designed  for  three  tiers  of  stacks,  with  a  total  capac- 
ity for  40,000  volumes,  and  is  practically  fireproof, 
being  separated  from  the  main  building  by  fire- 
proof walls  and  doors.  Between  the  stack-room 
and  main  structure  there  are  outside  stairways  lead- 
ing up  to  the  cataloguing  room  —  being  the  rear 
entrance  connected  with  Sigourney  Street  by  a 
granolithic  walk — and  down  to  the  basement, 
which  with  its  whitened  walls  and  cement  flooring 
is  spacious  and  well  lighted,  affording  accommoda- 
tion for  the  steam-heating  apparatus,  coal  bunkers, 
toilet  and  storage  rooms,  and  any  additional  equip- 
ment which  may  be  required  in  the  future.  The 
building  is  heated  by  steam  and  is  piped  for  gas, 
though  lighted  throughout  by  electricity,  and  sup- 
plied with  running  water  from  a  neighboring  hill. 

The  building  material  is  Milford  pink  granite 
and  a  light  gray  brick.  The  ashlar  basement,  in- 
cluding water-table,  steps,  and  entrance  porch  en- 
tire, door  and  window  sills  and  caps,  chimney  caps 
and  coping,  are  of  selected  granite,  while  the  brick  of 

100 


which  the  walls  are  constructed  is  from  Kittanning, 
Armstrong  County,  Pa.,  and  so  thoroughly  vitrified 
in  the  process  of  manufacture  as  to  be  impervious 
to  moisture. 

The  roof  of  the  main  structure  is  covered  with 

g  Monson  black  slate,  trimmed  with  copper  hip,  ridge 
crestings,  and  finials,  and  that  of  the  stack-room 
with  rolled  copper.  The  floors  of  the  first  and  sec- 

(~     ond     story    are  of   kiln-dried    quartered   oak,    the 

<  general  reading,  reference,  and  juvenile  rooms  hav- 
ing inlaid  patterns,  except  those  of  the  delivery  hall 

u.     and   vestibule,  which   are    Italian    marble   mosaic, 

<  flecked  with  the  French  fleur-de-lis,  with  ornamental 
border  of  classic  design,  the  base-boards,  plinths,  and 
thresholds  being  of  the  same  rich  material,  while  in 
the  centre  of  the  space  a  graceful  wreath  incloses 
the  monogram  of  Mrs.  Lamed,  for  whom  the  build- 
ing stands  as  a  memorial. 

The  stack-room  is  exceptionally  well  lighted  and 
well  ventilated,  with  ample  windows  upon  three 
sides,  and  furnished  with  Library  Bureau  clutch 
double  steel  stack,  glass  floor,  hand  lift,  and  iron 
stairway. 

The  walls  and  ceilings  are  tastefully  tinted  and 
decorated,  while  the  interior  finish,  with  all  furni- 
ture, fixed  and  movable,  designed  and  made  to  order, 
is  of  choice  quartered  oak,  finished  in  natural  tints. 

One  of  the  most  artistic  features  of  the  structure 
is  the  stained  glass  work  of  Redding,  Baird  &  Co., 
Boston.  While  plain,  polished  plate  glass,  from 
considerations  of  utility,  was  adopted  for  windows, 
doors,  and  sometimes  partitions,  the  leaded  glass 

101 


bordering  the  main  doorway,  transoms,  and  espe- 
cially the  large  arched  window  over  the  porch  ap- 
peal strongly  to  the  aesthetic  sense,  and  are  notable 
for  their  appropriateness  and  artistic  merit.  The 
latter  commemorates  "  The  Departure  of  the  Pil- 
grims from  Holland  in  1620,"  and  represents  a 
group  from  the  famous  painting  of  Charles  West 
Cope,  R.A.,  one  of  a  series  decorating  the  British 
House  of  Parliament. 

This  superb  creation,  about  eight  by  ten  feet  in 
size,  consists  of  a  large  central  panel  surrounded  by 
border  panels  at  the  top  and  sides,  with  emblematic 
medallions  representing  "The  Mayflower,"  "The 
Open  Bible,"  and  "  A  Burning  Lamp, "  which 
serve  as  foils  to  the  main  group. 

The  central  figure  of  the  devout  circle  kneeling 
at  the  water's  edge  is  that  of  the  revered  Robinson, 
with  outstretched  arms  and  eyes  turned  heavenward 
as  he  commits  his  charge  to  Him  who  rules  the 
winds  and  waves.  The  accessories  are  in  the  high- 
est degree  suggestive,  especially  the  local  coloring, 
as  seen  in  the  Dutch  dwellings  of  gray  stone  with 
heavy  gables  and  tiled  roofs,  the  old  windmill,  the 
waiting  boat  ready  to  convey  its  precious  freight  to 
the  "Mayflower"  in  the  offing,  and  even  the  pas- 
tor's passionate  soul-cry  for  "More  Light"  flashing 
forth  in  ruby  and  gold  from  the  clear  skies  over- 
head. 

The  transoms  on  the  main  floor,  including  the 
stairway,  each  of  which  is  a  work  of  art,  are  no  less 
noticeable  for  their  suggestive  beauty.  In  the  cen- 
tre of  each  is  a  twelve-inch  circular  medallion, 

102 


THE    DEPARTURE    OF    THE    PILGRIMS    FROM    HOLLAND    IN    1620. 
CHARLES   WEST   COPE,    R.A. 


twelve  being  reproductions  of  old  book-marks  used 
by  printers  and  publishers,  mostly  in  the  sixteenth 
century,  while  the  remaining  four  in  the  juvenile 
room  consist  of  flowers  and  figures  selected  from 
"  Flora's  Feast  "  by  Walter  Crane. 

They  may  be  briefly  described  as  f oUows :  — 


SPECIAL   STUDY  BOOM. 

Arion  with  violin  and  bow,  standing  upon  the  dolphin. 
Johann  Oporin,  Basle. 
About  1510-1570. 


An  anchor  held  by  two  hands  and  bearing  the  Greek  letters 
Alpha  and  Omega,  also  Chi  Bho,  the  initial  letters  of  the  name 
of  «  The  Anointed." 

Motto:   "  CONCORDIA." 

Gerardus  Wolfschatius,  Antwerp. 

About  1601-1625. 


GENERAL  BEADING  ROOM. 

A  crab  below,  a  butterfly  above. 

Motto:  "MATURA." 

Jehan  Trellon,  Lyons,  and  other  Lyons  printers. 
About  1540-1550. 


An  anchor  held  by  a  hand  reaching  from  the  clouds. 

Motto:  "ANCHORA  SPEI." 

Thomas  Vautrollier,  London  and  Edinburgh. 

About  1565-1605. 

Also 

John  Norton,  London. 
1601- 


108 


A  primitive  hand-press  and  an  open  book,  surrounded  by  a 
ring  of  serpents.  Invented  1428,  1440. 

Copied  from  a  silver  medal  struck  in  Haarlem  by  Laurens 
Koster. 


A  pair  of  compasses  directed  by  a  hand. 

Motto :  "  LABORE  ET  CONSTANTIA." 

The  best  known  of  several  devices  used  by  the  famous 
Plantins  of  Antwerp,  printers  and  publishers.  Introduced  by 
Christopher  Plantin  about  1550. 


Pegasus. 

Motto:  "  AD  ASTRA  VOLAJSTDUM." 

Jeremiah  Duemlerus,  Nuremberg. 

About  1601-1650. 


The  winged  bust  of  a  woman  with  three  heads, — a  woman, 
an  old  man,  a  young  man.     A  laurel   wreath  above,  a  star  in 
the  woman's  forehead,  an  open  book  below. 
Motto:  "USUS  ME  GENUIT." 
Melchior  and  Gaspard  Trechsel,  Lyons. 
About  1526-1550. 


REFERENCE  KOOM. 

A  Bible  richly  bound,  in  a  circle  of  light. 
Motto :  "  YET  AT  MORI." 
David  Martini,  Antwerp. 
About  1601. 


LIBRARIAN'S  ROOM. 

An  open  book  displayed  on  the  breast  of  Phoenix,  bearing 
the  Greek  letters  Alpha  and  Omega. 

Motto :  l '  RENO VABITUR.  ' ' 

Johannes  Columbius,  Deventer. 

About  1650. 


104 


STAIRWAY. 

A  boy  piping  beneath  a  tree  beside  a  stream  on  which  he 
has  just  launched  a  tiny  boat  bearing  a  burning  lamp. 

Motto:   "  TOUT  BIEN  OU  RIEN." 

Elihu  Yedder's  design  for  the  Riverside  Press,  Cambridge, 
first  made  to  accompany  his  illustrations  to  "Rubaiyat"  of 
Omar  Khayyam. 


Two  hands  holding  upright  a  caduceus,  on  which  is  perched 
a  bird.     The  two  serpents  are  crowned. 

Motto:  "FROBEN." 

The  device  of  John  Froben,  Basle. 

About  1490-1525. 


JUVENILE  ROOM. 

The  Tulips  lift  their  banners  red, 
Or  fill  their  cups  with  fire  instead. 


The  little  Crocus  reaches  up 
To  catch  a  sunbeam  in  his  cup. 


The  evening  Primrose  lights  her  lamp, 
A  beacon  to  the  garden  camp. 


The  Lilies  of  the  day  are  done, 
And  sunk  the  golden  westering  Sun. 


Those  who  have  been  instrumental  in  realizing 
an  expression  of  the  sentiment  and  purpose  which 
here  find  embodiment  are  :  — 

Cutting,  Carleton  &  Cutting, 

Worcester      ARCHITECTS. 

Rankin  &  Woodside,  Worcester     .    .    .     GENERAL  CONTRACTORS, 

105 


SUB-CONTRACTORS  . 

O.  Berggren,  Oxford MILFORD  PINK  GRANITE. 

Boston  Fire  Brick  Co.,  Boston    ....  KITTANNING    (PA.)     GRAY 

BRICK. 

George  A.  Barnard  &  Sons,  Worcester  .  ROOFING. 

Willis  C.  Beveridge,  Oxford     ....  PLASTERING. 

New  England  Marble  and  Mosaic  Co- 
operative Co.,  Boston     .....  MOSAIC  WORK. 

O.  S.  Kendall  &  Son,  Worcester   .    .    .  HEATING  AND  TILE  WORK. 

Redding,  Baird  &  Co.,  Boston      .    .    .  STAINED  GLASS. 

Stenberg  &  Co.,  Worcester MURAL  DECORATION. 

Plummer,  Ham  &  Richardson,  Worces- 
ter   ELECTRIC  WORK. 

T.  F.  McGann  &  Sons  Co.,  Boston      .    .  BRONZE  TABLET. 

Library  Bureau,  Boston FURNITURE  AND  FITTINGS. 

Hey  wood  Bros.  &  Wakefield  Co.,  Bos- 
ton       FURNITURE. 

Henry  M.  Pratt,  Boston GRADING  AND  SHRUBBERY. 

The  Receipts  and  Disbursements  whereby  this 
was  accomplished  are  best  set  forth  in  the  Report  of 
the  Building  Committee  submitted  to  the  town  at  its 
annual  meeting,  3  April,  1905,  which  is  hereto 
appended. 


106 


REPORT 

OF  THE 

BUILDING  COMMITTEE 

OF  THE 

CHARLES  LARNED  MEMORIAL. 

The  Building  Committee  of  the  Charles  Larned 
Memorial  was  appointed  when  the  terms  of  the  gift 
required  that  one-third  of  the  expense  should 
be  borne  by  the  town.  Subsequently,  Mr.  Larned 
proposed  to  assume  the  entire  expense  of  the  build- 
ing, and  in  view  of  this  change  no  report  to  the 
town,  save  as  regards  the  Wallace  Fund  and  the 
$500  appropriation  by  the  town,  would  seem  to  be 
called  for,  but,  as  the  citizens  are  deeply  interested 
in  all  details  connected  with  our  Free  Public  Li- 
brary, the  financial  report  of  the  Charles  Larned 
Memorial,  in  so  far  as  it  has  been  determined  by 
the  Committee,  is  respectfully  submitted. 

CONTRIBUTIONS  AND  APPROPRIATIONS. 

O.  F.  Joslin .  $1,000.00 

Town  appropriation 500.00 

Wallace  Fund 2,783.84 

Town  appropriation  for  lot 4,500.00 

Charles  Larned 25,083.47 

Credit  allowed  by  town  on  insurance  for  three  years,  116.65 

$33,983.96 
Town  appropriation  of  $500  overdrawn      ....  13.83 

$33,997.79 
107 


DISBURSEMENTS. 


Lot. 

Movable 
Furniture. 

Building 
and  Fixed 
Furniture. 

Total 
Cost. 

Library  site  .  .  . 

$5  500  00 

$5  500  00 

Telegram  Newspaper  Co  
George  E.  Chaffee,  printing  
J.  E.  Kimball,  labor  of  teams  
Vinton  Bros.,  teams  
Chaffee  Bros.  Co.,  pipes,  etc  
John  H.  McWhorter,  labor  
H.  M.  Pratt,  grading  and  shrubs  .... 
C  S  Bacon  insurance 

13.80 
4.75 
26.39 
255.58 
18.10 

678.58 

— 

54.35 
140  00 

13.80 
4.75 
26.39 
255.58 
18.10 
54.35 
678.58 
140  00 

Visiting  libraries  for  plans  .  .  . 

16  46 

16.46 

Postage,  car-fare,  filling  post  holes  .  .  . 
Stationery  and  telephone  
Expense  to  Boston  for  plans  
W  H  Haven,  piping 

3.52 

— 

.45 
5.44 

28  48 

3.52 
.45 
5.44 

28.48 

William  I.  Thompson,  engineer  .... 
N  S  Pike  cleaning  well 

1000 

— 

8.95 

8.95 
10.00 

Boardman  Bros.,  copper  box  .  .  . 



2  55 

2.55 

Vinton  Bros.,  trucking  





2.00 

2.00 

Express  on  tamels  
Duncan  &  Goodell,  hardware  
H.  O.  Lamson,  lighting 

— 

— 

3.30 
175.00 
453  00 

3.30 
175.00 
453.00 

Chaffee  Bros.  Co.,  chairs  



$212.65 

212.65 

C.  F.  Daniels,  labor  

.68 



.68 

The  Clark-Sawyer  Co.,  tools  

9.06 



9.06 

Duncan  &  Goodell  tools 

10  00 

10.00 

John  H.  McWhorter,  labor  
William  Miller  &  Son,  labor  
Doll  &  Richards,  framing  plan  .... 
H.  M.  Pratt,  plan  
Law  &  Hawxhurst.gas  and  electric  fixtures 
Dedication  expense,  printing,  etc.  .  .  . 
Expense  telephone  freight 

14.75 
26.03 

18.50 
15.00 

.50 

184.00 
40.32 
2.57 

14.75 
26.03 
18.50 
15.00 
184.00 
40.32 
3.07 

Freight  on  gas  machine  .  .  .  . 



6.71 

6.71 

Plummer,  Ham  &  Richardson,  elec.  w'k  . 
C.  G.  Farnsworth,  putting  on  door  spring, 
Barnard,  Sumner  &  Putnam,  curtains  . 
E.  A.  Wheelock,  door  spring  
Rankin  &  Woodside,  contract  
Rankin  <fe  Woodside  coal 

— 

37.80 

41.40 
1.55 

1.80 
20,083.30 
13.50 

41.40 
1.55 
37.80 
1.80 
20,083.30 
13.50 

O.  Berggren,  extra  on  stone  work      .    .    . 
Cutting,  Carleton  &  Cutting,  architects  . 
O.  S.  Kendall,  heating    
Library  Bureau,  furniture  and  stack-room 
Chaffee  Bros.  Co.,  lumber,  pipe,  etc.    .    . 
Postage     

.40 

623.25 
6.00 

453.30 
1,029.34 
800.00 
3,630.25 
7.70 
8.23 

453.30 
1,029.34 
800.00 
4,253.50 
14.10 
8.23 

Lot,  reduced  by  sale  of  buildings  .... 

$6,552.58 
681.50 

$932.76 

$27,193.95 

$34,679.29 
681.50 

$5,871.08 

$33,997.79 

The  above  does  not  include  the  cost  of  copper  roof  over  stack-room,  mosaic  floor  in  de- 
livery-room, ornamental  glass  windows  and  bronze  tablet,  approximating  $2,500,  which 
items  were  paid  by  Mr.  Larned,  and  of  whose  cost  the  committee  has  no  knowledge. 


JOHN   E.  KIMBALL, 
ORRIN    F.  JOSLIN, 
ALFRED   M.  CHAFFEE, 


OXFORD,  Mass.,  3  April,  1905. 


108 


Basement'        Plan 

•CHARLES  •  LARNED-MEMORIAL 
•OXFORD-MASS- 


Cutting-Carleton'CuHing 
•architects 
Worcester-Mass- 


Tirst-FloorPUn- 

HARUC5  •  LARNED-NEMORIAL 
•OXFORD  MA55- 


•Second-Floor  Plan- 

•CHARLES  •  LARNED-MEMORIAL- 
•OXFORD  MA5S 

•Cutting  Carleton'Cuttinfc 

•Grchitects- 
•  Worcester -Nass- 


Cniiauarian  Room 


STAIRWAY    LEADING   TO    SECOND   FLOOR. 


DELIVERY   COUNTER   AND   CATALOGUING   ROOM. 
STACK    ROOM    IN    REAR. 

DOOR  OF  LIBRARIAN'S  ROOM  ON  THE  RIGHT. 


LOOKING  FROM  JUVENILE  ROOM  TO  GENERAL  READING  ROOM 
ACROSS  DELIVERY  HALL. 


LOOKING  FROM  GENERAL  READING  ROOM  TO  JUVENILE  ROOM 
ACROSS  DELIVERY  HALL. 


A  CORNER  IN  THE  JUVENILE  ROOM,  LOOKING  WEST. 


GENERAL  READING  ROOM,  LOOKING  SOUTH. 


SPECIAL   STUDY   AND    CONVERSATION    ROOM. 


